MASTER 
NEGA  TIVE 
NO.  92-81103 


MICROFILMED  1993 
COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES/NEW  YORK 


as  part  of  the 
"Foundations  of  Western  Civilization  Preservation  Project" 


Funded  by  the 
NATIONAL  ENDOWMENT  FOR  THE  HUMANITIES 


Reproductions  may  not  be  made  without  permission  from 

Columbia  University  Library 


COPYRIGHT  STATEMENT 


The  copyright  law  of  the  United  States  -  Title  17,  United 
States  Code  -  concerns  the  making  of  photocopies  or 
other  reproductions  of  copyrighted  material. 

Under  certain  conditions  specified  in  the  law,  libraries  and 
archives  are  authorized  to  furnish  a  photocopy  or  other 
reproduction.  One  of  these  specified  conditions  is  that  the 
photocopy  or  other  reproduction  is  not  to  be  "used  for  any 
purpose  other  than  private  study,  scholarship,  or 
research."  If  a  user  makes  a  request  for,  or  later  uses,  a 
photocopy  or  reproduction  for  purposes  in  excess  of  "fair 
use,"  that  user  may  be  liable  for  copyright  infringement. 

This  institution  reserves  the  right  to  refuse  to  accept  a 
copy  order  if,  in  its  judgement,  fulfillment  of  the  order 
would  involve  violation  of  the  copyright  law. 


A  UTHOR : 


EURIPIDES 


TITLE: 


EURIPIDES'  ALCESTIS 
AND  ELECTRA 

PLACE: 

NEW  YORK 

DA  TE : 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 
PRESERVATION  DEPARTMENT 


Master  Negative  # 


BIBLIOGRAPHIC  MirROFORM  TARHFT 


Original  Material  as  FUmed  -  Existing  Bibliographic  Record 


NYCG92~B43433 


RTYP:a 

OCF:?    CSC:? 

INT:?   GPC:? 

REP:? 

DM: 


ST:s 
MOD: 
BIO:? 
CPI:? 


7 


8KS/SAVE   Books       FUL/BIB 
Record  1  of  0  ~  SAVE  record 

UNI 

ID:NYCG92~B43433 

CC:9668  BLT:am 

CP:nyu  L:en<3 

PC:n  PO:    / 

MMD:  OR:    POL:     DM:     RR: 

040  NNCi^cNNC 

100  0  Euripides. 

245  10  Euripides'  Alcestis  and  Electrarhfmicrof orm ) 

260  New  York,^bArthur  Hinds  and  Co. 

300  71  p.  . 

LOG  ORIG 

QO  11-20-92 


Acquisitions 


NYCG-TLK 


FRN 
SNR 
FIC 
FSI 
COL 


MS:    EL 
ATC 
CON 
ILC 
EML 


♦    •    • 

«      •      •      4 


AD:ll-20-92 
UD:ll-20-92 

II:? 
GEN:        BSE: 


Restrictions  on  Use: 


TECHNICAL  MICROFORM  DATA 


X 


FILM     SIZE: 2S^t^„^_  REDUCTION    RATIO- 

IMAGE  PLACEMENT:   L\   dS    IB    HB  ^/iiiu. 


DATE     FILMED: Lr^lZl^:^ INITIALS.  DH 

FILMED  BY:   RESEARCH  PUBLICATIOMS,  INC  WOOnRRmni""rT 


r 


Association  for  Information  and  image  Management 

1100  Wayne  Avenue.  Suite  1100 
Silver  Spring,  Maryland  20910 

301/587-8202 


Centimeter 

12         3        4         5 


nil 


iiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiii 


iIiiiiIimiImiiIiiiiIiiiiIiimI|iiiI|iiiI|iii 

i^TTTT  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  II  I  I 


Inches 


7        8        9 

liiiiliiiilimliiiiliiiilii 


1.0 


LI 


1.25 


10 

iiiiiliii 


TTT 


11       12       13       14 

iiiiiiilmiliiiiliiiiliiilll 


T 


1^      2.8 

|5jO 

2.5 

1^       |S 
■  63 

2.2 

■"      II  3.6          "" 

■to          „ 

"          i— 

2.0 

li     u 

tULLU. 

1.8 

1.4 

1.6 

15    mm 


MflNUFfiCTURED   TO  flllM   STflNOnRDS 
BY   APPLIED   IMflGEt     INC. 


-ui-  lff'.*'«J-  .»^.l' 


•  f(%   ,  Si^^^Jtii^.""^.''' 


\ 


^" 


***f 


,^^'4 


iS^-' 


:r:S 


%■« 


i^^fli 


^.:!.» 


Columbia  Wimiitviitp 

in  tfjc  Citp  of  ^eta  gorb 


I  11 


I       :l 


Not  only  in  the  saving  of  time,  but  also 
for  all  purposes  of  careful  study,  the 
superiority  is  readily  apparent  of  the 

Interlinear  Translations 

over  other  translations.  For  the  self -teach- 
ing student  and  also  for  the  hard-pressed 
teacher  they  make  possible  as  well  as 
convenient  and  easy,  a  correct  solution  of 
idioms,  a  quick  insight  into  the  sense,  a 
facile  and  lucid  re-arrangement  of  the  con- 
text in  the  English  order,  and  a  practical 
comparison  of  both  the  similarities  and 
the  contrasts  of  construction.  See  other 
pages  for  the  several  titles  and  the  prices, 
also  for  list  of 

Literal  Translations, 

Dictionaries,  and  other  Spsciilties  for 
teachers  and  students. 


HANDY  LITEEAL  TRANSLATIONS. 

..."  ^'!  ^*'  «"*^  ".  reading  the  Classics,  a  literal  trans- 
latton  ts  a  convenient  and  legitimate  help;.. and  every 
vtell-injortned person  wilt  read  the  Classics  either  in  tKe 
ortgnalor  in  a  translation:' 

Thirty-nine  volumes  are  now  ready  in  this  popular 
senes,  uniform  in  style  and  price.  For  advertisementVf 
VoTumT'"  of  ^^i'^linear    Translations  see  end   of  this 

Caesar's  Galic  War. 

Cicaro's  Orations. 

Cicaro  On  The  Nature  of  the  Gods.    In preparatiim, 

Cicero  On  Old  Age  and  Friendship. 

Cicero's  Select  Letters. 

Cicero  s  Defence  of  Roscius. 

Cornelius  Nepos. 

Horace,  complete. 

Juvenal. 

Livy,  Books  I  and  M. 

Llvy,  Books  XXI  and  XXII. 

Ovid's  Metamorphoses,  Vol.  I. 

Ovid's  Metannorphoses,  Vol.  11. 

Plifiy's  Select  Letters.     In  preparation, 

Sallust. 

Tacitus    Annals.     In  preparation. 

Tacitus'  Gernnany  and  Agricola. 

Terence. 

Virgil's  Aeneid,  The  xst  Six  Books. 

Virgil  s  Eclogues  and  Georgics. 

Aeschylus'  Prometheus  Bound    and 

Seven  Against  Thebes. 

Demosthenes  on  the  Crown. 

Demosthenes'  Olynthiacs  and  Philippics. 

Euripidds'  Alcestis  and  Electra. 
Euripidts'  Medea. 
Herodotus   Books  VI  a-d  VII 
Homer's  Iliad,  The  xst  Six  Books. 
Homer's  Odyssey,     xst  Twelve  Books, 
Lytiu  Orations, 

Plato's  Apology,  C'ito  and  Phaedo. 
Plautus.     In  preparation. 
Sophocles'  GEdipus,  Electra,  Antigone. 
Thucydides.     In  preparation. 
Xinophon's  Anabasis.     The  xst  Four  Books. 
Xenophon  8  Hellenica      In  preparation. 
Aenophon  s  Memorabilia. 
Goethe's  Faust 

Goethe's  Hermann  and  Dorothea. 
Lessing's  Minna  von  Barnhelm. 
Lessing's  Nathan  the  Wise. 
Schiller's  Maria  Stuarr. 
SchiI.er's  The  Maid  of  Orleans 
Schill»r's  William  Tell. 
Feuillet's  Romance  of  a  Poor  Young  Man. 
OTHKKS  TO  FOLLOW, 


g5an6?  Uiteral  tranglati^ng 


EURIPIDES' 


\ 


ALCESTIS  AND  ELECTRA 


Lll 


Literally  Translated 
With  Notes,  Explanatory  and  Critical 


BY 


THEODORE  ALOIS  BUCKLEY 


ARTHUR  HINDS  &  CO. 
4  Cooper  Institute,   New  York  City 


Our  Dictionaries.— Greek,  French,  German. 

M.  C.  Smart,  Principal  Stevens'  High  School,  Clarenront, 
N.  H,  :  I  have  examined  the  Greek  Dictionary  most  care- 
fully. I  am  surprised  that  a  book  so  complete  and  so  well 
made  can  be  sold  for  the  price.  I  shall  speak  a  good  word 
for  It  to  my  pupils.  February  29,  1892, 

F.  W.  Hazen,  Principal  Crajtsbury  Academy,  North 
Cra/tsbury,  Vt. :  I  am  much  pleased  with  your  Greek 
Dictionary,  and  shall  recommend  it  to  my  classes.  *  *  * 
If  your  French  Dictionary  is  equal  to  the  Greek  Dictionary 
I  shall  be  more  than  satisfied.  February  26,  1892. 

L.  M.    Dunton,  PresU   Clajiin    University,  Orangeburgh, 

S,  C.  :    Please  send copies  Greek-Eng.—Eng.  Greek 

^^^^^^"'   copies    German-Eng.-Eng. -German  dit- 
to.  (Classic  series.)  February  24,  iSgi. 

Edw.  S.  Joynes,  '.Professor  of  Modern  Lan- 
guages {Author  of  Joynes- Otto  German  and  French 
Series),  South  Carolina  College,  Columbia,  S.  C,  : 
The  volumes  are  well  made  and  very  attractive.  I 
shall  call  the  attention  of  the  students  to  them  and 
see  that  our  booksellers  are  provided  with  them  reg- 
ularly hereafter.  (French  and  German  Dictionaries.) 

February  23,  1892. 

James  P.  Thorns,  Ph.  D.,  Principal  Academic  Depart, 
ment.  Way  land  University  ^Beaver  Dam,  Wis,  /  Your  Greek- 
English  and  English-Greek  Dictionary  fills  a  want  long  felt. 
It  is  excellent  in  form,  well  bound,  ♦  *  *  accurate 
in  scholarship,  and  is  absolutely  necessary  for  complete 
and  thorough  work  in  Greek.  Please  send  me  youi  terms 
tor  introduction  to  my  Greek  classes  February  22,  1892 


Our  Dictionaries.— Greek,  German,  Latin. 

T  T  X  Tehan,  Treasurer  St.  Marys  College,  St.  Mary's, 
Kansas'  I'have  had  your  Greek  Dictionary  examined  by 
several  of  our  Professors,  all  of  whom  speak  highly  of  il. 
Please  forward. . .  .dozen  copies  as  an  opening  for  other 
orders  later  on.  In  the  future  we  shall  use  your  dictionary 
to  the  exclusion  of  ....  and  others.  (Latin  Dictionary 
previously  adopted.)  November  3,  1892. 

D  W  Anderson,  Principal  Public  Schools,  Hughesville, 
Pa  '•  I  am  very  well  pleased  with  your  Latin  Dictionary. 
You  may  send  me  the  other  three  dictionaries  of  the 
Classic  Series.  November  i,  1%^^. 

L.  M.  \yMVi\.OVi,  President  Clafiin  University,  Orangeburg, 

S  C.  :  Please  forward copies  Greek  Lexicon. 

October  24,  1892. 

C  A  Meyer,  Professor  of  German,  Albany  High  School 
and  Albany  Female  Academy,  Albany,  N,  Y.  :  Your  Classic 
German-English  English-German  Dictionary  is  a  gem 
among  the  dictionaries.  I  shall  recommend  it  to  every 
pupil  in  need  of  a  dictionary.  October  24,  1892. 

Henry  Julian,  Bookseller  to  Washington  and  Lee  Univer- 
sity, Lexington,  Va,  :  Send  by  Adams'  Express. .  copies 
each  of  your  Latin,  Greek,  French  and  German  D.ction- 
rries  (Classic  Series).  C?./.^.r20,  1892. 

Rev.  S.  Guilband,  Professor  of  Greek,  St.  Charles  Col- 
lege. Elliott  City,  Md:  Your  Greek-English  a.id  English- 
;  Greek  Dictionary  has  been  unanimously  adopted  by  our 
College  board.  We  will  also  take  a  certain  number  of 
^  copies  of  the  English-Greek  separate,  because  many  of  our 
students  who  have  the  Greek-English  are  without  the 
English-Greek. ..  .About  170  students  follow  the  Greek 
gour»e  ;  so  W9  wiU  nwd  a  good  supply  of  dictionaries 

May  24»  i89«« 

360888 


\1 


i 


Our  D/ctionaries.-Greek,  Latin,  French. 

2T^*!i^-  ^l""'  ^"'^'^^  ^""-"^^'T,  Boston  Univ^rnty 
Souon,  Mass.:  Prof.  Buck,  o£  iiostc.  University  insS 

fy  you.     Please  send. .   .  copies  at  once.       Octoi^,  ,892. 
f:  ■    ^  ^'^f.  y"""'  I-^""  Dictionary  very  much,  and  I  wU 

^"Suag.s    W^ndom  Institute,  Mont^id.„^  M»m. .-     Havine 
thoroughly  examined    your  Dictionaries    (Greek  Tat", 

for  them,  and  you  may  look  for  orde:^  from  my  students. 

October  15,  1892. 

senf "  ^J'^°^*^^'  ^'-  ^'^'•^'^  ^^^/-^-,  Kentucky  :  Please 
send   us   by  express  ....  copies  Latin,  Greek 

French,  ....  German  Dictionaries  (Classic  Series).    

October  14,  1892. 

SolHe';)""'"'  route  as  previous  orders  (Classic 

80  copies  German.English  English-German. 
30      "      French-English  English  French. 
30      "      Utin-English  English-Latin. 
10     "      Greek  English  Englisb-Greek. 

Octoitr  II,  189a. 

^;  Str/ress "  "^^^ ''"' """  •  •  •"^"T  ^^^^'  ^'^^• 

/    /"press.  Oaoi»-j,  ,892 


Our  Dictionaries.-Latin,  French,  German. 

R«    A    M    Jelly,   /'««V«'  ^'«'  ^^""'  ^'"T' 
/^I;i:in  Jitionto  our  second  order  ^or. . .  .c^p.es 

lTk.EngUsh  Englis^Greek  I>ict.onary.^^nd^...^n_ 
English  and  English-Latm. 

Rev.  A.  A.  Loude.  MUg.  du.  Si.  Non.  ^' f^^^'  J«» 
Bur.n,  Maine  :  Combien  vendez  vous  votre  C  ass^c 
Frenck-EnglishEnglish-French  DichonaryJ    Je  10 1  ouve 

bou.     S'il  n'est  pas  trop  cher  ,e  le  <ionnera.^.^mes  .16ves. 

Je  viens  de  recevoir  votre  lettre  du  6  aout 
Lille.  m-enexp.diers   douz.  -■"^'i-~\^  j^l 
dresse  ci-dessus. 

of  its  kind  I  have  ever  seen.  ''"""^  "^ 

r  A  Shyne.  S.  J.,  Detroit  College,  Detroit,  Mich.:  You 
mf;  fo'rw^'dTo  coi's  Classic  ^'^^-^f^:^i:^:t^^ 
LatL  Dictionary.  I  think  we  may  -'-d^^  j^e^G^g: 
Dictionary  also. 

Prof.   G.  H.  Wiley,  Centenary  College  of  U.,  Jachon, 
U-  Of  your  Dictionaries  (Classic  Series)  please  send.    . . 

^rsUalopttouVMd  French  Method  (of  which 
Att  -^  -  •  •  •  •  -pies),  and  pe-aps -:^~ 
Method. 

Westerville,  0.  :  I  at  once  recommended  .t  ^"^1"^^^°^ 
ary)  to  my  classes,  and  supplies  were  ordered  t''~"^  •  •  ;• 
%ow  me  to  add  that  the  number  of  y°"  P^^'^^f^ 
to  ut«  hero  i8  steadily  increasing.  Octoier  4,  l89«- 


% 


Our  Dictionaries — Latin,  Greek. 

J.  F.   X.  Tehan,  S.  J.,  s/.  Mary's  College,  St.  Marv's 
Kamas:  I  am  very  much  pleased  ^vith  the  Latin  vtv  ? 

copies      Sena  along  with  them  a  copy  of  the  Greek tr 
I^tm,  I  w,ll  g, ve  you  a  good  order.         October  4,  ,892. ' 

E.  H.  Atherton,  Master  and  Prof^^^n^  ^/-  ^       r     r, 
'^/y/.'  Z«//„  school  Boston  LT  7Z  '  ^'''""' 

Oreek.English  and  EnMir.G  t,  n-'  "t^"""^"  ^°"' 

no  one  has  before p.„dutd^r;^rC.^;^Ttefur 
nessis  undenipble     To  h*>  oKi    *    ^         .  its  useful- 

En^nsh  wo.d  a„he Jhow  ht  ^  eTp^^Z 'Gr''",f  ""^  •" 
used,  without  going  ,0  another  blok'^  and  fo  fi!!l°'"  '^ 

^o^if  irnr^^er^d^  ^^f  ^"^^^^^^^^ 

point  is  that  its  W  p  >  ^  7l^^Z ^'^^ 

October  3,  1892. 
St     John's    College.   A;r^^a;«    ^  y  •  P1^p«.   o      , 

....  Latin-English      English-Latin      n    ;•  ^^"^    "' 

Series).  "g'lsn  Latin      Dictionary      (Classic 

October  I,  1892. 

M.e  Dictionary  (Utin>  for  le  pricJ  Tt""  f  "k  '°  ^^" 
.ionaries  of  its  class  may  .e  ta^-en  aT  'r^  ,^  "  '^  '■"^, 
.o^your  house  for  our  needs.    ,Oree.  ,^,-^,  ;:!'  -| 

September  30,  1802 

is  Wholly  admirable  f  orlf;  u  es  L"  c:,le"  """'""^^ 
classes,  and  is  a  miracle  of  cheapnes  tX  P'?."^-""'-^ 
popularize  the  study  of  Greek  mo-'th  °^^"'°  *° 

the  press  in  the  last  decade  ^'"  r^l "°'''  '^"^ 

'"*"^»  September  2^,  1S92. 


4^ 


Our  Dictionaries.— Greek,  Latin. 

c  A  nonstock  Howard  Institute,  Mount  Pleasant, 
rir  Atr^rtr:':.  examination  ot  your  Greek-English 
EnglishGreeUDictio„ary,Iammuchp,e.e.^w.^^^^ 

class  will  use  it.  ^ 

S.  L.  Davis.  Principal  Ingram  Institute,  ^"S-''^'^'' 
Your  Latin  Lexicon  admirably  takes  the  place  of  Ha-T-e- 
,a.50  Dictionary.  I  shall  certainly  recommend  .t^to  my 
classes.  ^ 

Peter  Engel.  O.  S.  B.,  St.  John's  University,  Colieg^il!', 
Minn  I  am  well  pleased  with  the  Greek  and  Lafn  the- 
fonaries.    You  shall  have  our  order.      Seftentier  26,  1892. 

Allison  Thompson.  A.  M..  ^«/'"-//„tt'ed '^Uh 
College  Sherman,  Texas  :  I  am  very  much  pleased  wun 
j:!f::atin  Dictionary,  an.  have  adopted  .^--n  my 

classes. 

A    H    Smythe,5o«.^^.//'',C./««4«^,0..- We  have  sold 

oi  T"   Greek  Dictionaries  to  the  University  stu- 
ae;;;:    you  may  send  us. . .  .copies  -ore.^^^^  ^^^  ^^^ 

Geo.  D.  Crothers,  Professor  of  Utinand  Greek,  Vniver- 

Utyof  Omaha,  Bellevue,  Neb.:  "^^^  ^«';^, " "  .■fP";,  -f." 
iuFnelish    English-Latin    Dictionary    (Classic     Series) 

'  ;!saV  the  G;eek.Engiish  ^-^^f-^^^^^f^:'^:'::'':;:: 

be  generally  introduced  into  my  classes.  Septemberz^,  I»9- 

H   S  r^X-^MPrindflCushing  Academy,  Ashburnimm, 

S.  t-oiweu,  e  Latm-Lng. 

Mass.:  Please  send  at  once. . .  .copies  ,  g,^^. 

lish  English-Latin  Dictionaries.  September  2„  i»92- 

F,  P.  Powers,  S.  J.,  Pr^/f  "/  ''''^'".'J''te  gSiI'. 
Baltimore,  Md.:  PleasG  send  me. ..  .copies  of  the  Greek 

Ingush  EWu.h.a-k  Dictionary  (Class.^^-;^.^^^  ^^_ 


Ml 


ii* 


Our  Dictionaries—French,  German,  Greek. 

I  have  seen  a  Fre^^^h  Z^'ty  ItlltZT:'  ''"'" 
much.      Of  convenienf  «;  .,  Pleased  me  so 

bound,  it  cZ2s\lt  t  •  r^^^"^""y  P^^-nted,  firmly 
dent  needs  :r:,?h  "XT"^^  "'^^^  ^^^^  «^- 
On  the  whole,  it  seemfto^eTo  be  rurel-^^r  ^  '^  t^* 
work  of  its  class  with  which  I  ^r^-  .  ^"^  ^^^^^ 
recommend  it.  ""  acquainted.     I  shall 

iieptetnber  2.0,  1892. 

i"g,  bold  afd  ^tin/;::-'  '^t,'  "^'^  *"*^'"'  ■"  •^'"^- 

adapted   ora.I  c  ass  and'.""'"  ?""°""'"^  "  '^  ^'^'"'^'"y 
^        ^Kji  dn  Class  and  general  purnoses       T  or«  ^     n 

^  •'  =»™°ents.  SefUmber  19,  1892. 

Prof.  Frank  Vogel,  Massachuscils  InstituU  of  T.chn^l 
ogy,  Boston,  Afas,..-  The  Dictionarv  rt'l,.  ,-  ^"*"'^- 
the  best  .o..pHced  dictionarrth"  7h  tl ":?  selT^ll 

r strL^^'^^"""-""- ' '-  ^"'  .--nrnrtio; 

Schoo,„tLa„,.3,e,  atNor^al,  IHinlt  SlL.l":^:: 

«•// ~  A  ■•  f?"""^  Weinberger,  Orsi„us  ColUg.,   ColU„. 
vilU    Pa.:  Upon  examination  I  find  that   von,    n      • 

September  15,  1892. 


V 


Our  Dictionaries — Greek. 

FrancU  G.  Russell,  S.  J.,  Librarian  and  Propuor  of 
nlTs* Francis  Xavi\r's  College,  30  »"'"  Sixteenth  Street 
Te^vlkfto  say  that  I  am  greatly  pleased  with  it  (Class.c 
r^ek-Enelish  English-Greek  Dictionary),  .s  to  pra.se  it 
S^s  fhan  it  deserves.  I  find  it  quite  to  my  liking,  and 
Tarn  confident  that  wherever  used,  it  will  be  highly  appre- 
L:tea  alike  byteacher  and  pupil,  and  .-^"»--;- 
lion.    (Introduced.) 


Rev.  S.  Guilband,  Projessor  of  Greek  St  Charles  Col. 
l^rEllicott  City,  Md.:  Your  Greek-EngUsh  and  EngUsh- 
cfeef  Dictionan^  has  been  unanimously  adopted  by  ou 
College  board.  We  will  also  take  a  certam  """be;  "^ 
copies  o£  the  English-Greek  separate,  because  "^ny  ofour 
Zrnts  who  h!ve  the  Greek-English  are  w.thou^^he 
English-Greek.... About  ,70  students  follow  the  Greek 
cou^rse;  so  we  will  need  a  good  supply  ot  <i~- ^^^ 


Rev  P  Nicholas  Leonard,  O.  S.  F..  St.  Joseph's  Dio- 
ce^nC^ege,  Teutofolis,  III.:  It  is  our  intention  to  mtro^ 
rce  your  ClassicGreek  Dictionary. . .  -Wehaveso  far  used 
Grove's  Greek  Dictionary.  ^"^  ^^  '^9'- 


Brother  Isidore.  F.  S.  C,  J^'siJent  La  Salle  ColUge. 
P^^llhia,  Pa.:  I  shall  take  pleasure  in  recommendmg 
your  Classic  Greek  Dictionary  to  the  ~--f;  °";«* 
Loks,  for  adoption  in  our  college.  May  >o,  tS<)M. 


: 


WE  ARE  ACTING 

attend  T„'?H°r  '^^'"^'^^  enable  us  to 
a  tend  to  this  line  of  business  with  the 

utmost  promptness,  and  we  sTve  our 

customers  the  delay  and  unceSnty  of 

correspondence  and  dealings  with  num! 

erous  publishers,  express  companLete 

We  can  present  no  better  test imorly  as 

to   the   success  of  our  eflforts    in    th!s 

direction,   than  the  cordial  approva I'o 

our   old  patrons,   who    are   constantly 

sending  us  new  customers.  ^ 

yji    £       ^"'',  ^"''^  ^-^oo^  Book  CUar. 
Z'sineT'^   "''^^  -^^'^  -^--  >-   ' 

ARTHUR  HINDS  <Sc  CO., 

Cooper  Imtitute,     .     New  York  City. 


ALCESTIS. 


PEKSONS  KEPBESENTED. 

Z-    APOLLO. 

<?    DEATH. 

^     CHORUS  OF  PHERCEANS. 

ATTENDANTS. 

/      ALCESTIS. 

^   ADMETUS. 

•T     EUMELUS. 

^     HERCULES. 

PHERES. 


THE  ARGUMENT. 


Atollo  desired  of  the  Fates  that  Admetns,  who  was  about  to  die 
might  give  a  substitute  to  die  for  him,  that  so  he  might  live  for  a  tenj 
equal  to  his  former  Ufe ;  and  Alcestis,  his  wife,  gave  herself  up,  while 
neither  of  his  parents  were  willing  to  die  instead  of  their  son.    But  not 
long  after  the  time  when  this  calamity  happened,  Hercules  having  ar- 
rived, and  hanng  learned  from  a  servant  what  had  befallen  Alcestis 
went  to  her  tomb,  and  having  made  Death  retire,  covers  the  ladv  with  I 
robe ;  and  requested  Admetus  to  receive  her  and  keep  her  for  him ;  and 
said  he  had  borne  her  off  as  a  prize  in  wresUing ;  but' when  he  would 
not,  he  unveiled  her,  and  discovered  her  whom  he  was  lamenting. 


ALCESTIS. 


Apollo. 

n  «*vsi0KS  of  Admetus,  whcrom  I  endured  to  acquiesce  in 

.  °,^!  ?^ble  ■  Vhou"h  a  God;  for  Jove  was  the  cause,  by 

* ''  •  t  mv  .o^VSpius,  hurling  the  lightning  aga.nsl  h.s 

slaying  my  son  ^cm-ui-'F     •         ,i,°  pvclon',  formers  of  Jove  s 

fi,c;  and  ■»-= jy  f-*^' ^"^  J°X,e  things.     But  having  come 
■""i   'Hnd  F  tend^tbe  berds  of  him  who  received  me,  and 

But  hav  n"  tried  and  gone  through  all  his  friends,  h.s  father 
»,^d  hUa°ed  mother  who  bore  hm.,  he  found  not.  save  h  s 
wl.,  one°U.o  was  willing  to  d.e  for  him.  «"-!  "T  "°  ""J^ 
rt  0  li.'ht:  who  now  within  the  house  «  borne  m  the.r  ands 
Itthing  ber  last;  for  -  this  day  is  .  --«^J-  ;>- ^e 
die  and  to  depart  Irom  hte.      but  i,  icm  me  put*  „k«.i« 

upl  me  ?n  tL  house,  leave  this  P'^l-f '  ^'dfj  who  s 
But  already  I  behold  Death  near,  pnest  f  «''«''«'»';  ^^\„ 
about  to  bear  ber  down  to  the  mansions  "^ .  P'"*"  •  ^,"\  "" 
comes  at  the  right  time,  observing  this  day,  .n  the  which  it 
W.13  destined  for  her  to  die. 

.     .  Lacta»t.  i  10.  -  Quid  ApoUol   Sonne .  .    •  turpissun.  grogem  pa. 
"".  HygrFaUh:  .■ApoUo.beoin.«vitutemUber.h«r««eplu..-a 
•  Cl  Uippol.  UJ7.    B. 


"lii 


ALCEsna 


Ut— 66. 


ib — e>i'  J 


ALCESTIS. 


t> 


Death,*  Apollo. 

injustice,  taking  awa^andouuL  ^°T  ^\'^^  ^""^  "^ 
the  powers  benlth  ?^DM  it^!l/^fl-  1°'^  '°  ""*  '"'"»"  "^ 
of  Admetus,  wren  hou  didsrif  ?"  .""t.'"  *">' "'« ''^'«1' 
artiace  P  But  now  too  do.7.h  I**"  ""^  *^"'''  *•?  '"""'"■"I 
armed  thine  hanri.h'thy  bow^U^TheTol'"  ',"'•  '"'^'"S 

.  ^-■''w^TLVntrn^^^^^^^^^     ;r  r '• 

justice?  ■'^""^  *^°^»  "  you  cleave  to 

Ap.  Itis  my  habit  ever  to  bear  it. 
i^EA.  res,  and  without  regard  to  iustiee  in  oM  ♦!,•    t. 
Ap.  Ay,  for  I  am  afflicted  n7*Kl-r!      ®^^  *^^^  ^<^"se. 
i8  dear  to  me.  ^  ^'  *^^  misfortunes  of  a  man  that 

^Dea.^How  then  is  he  upon  earth,  an  J  noTbeneath  th. 

artt  wt mf  '^  ^^"  "^  ^^  ^^^^^  ^^  -i^«>  ^er  whom  thou 

AP^'Vyr^r*^  '^"  *^"  ^^'^  °ff  *o  the  land  beneath 
suai'th^:'^  '"  ^"^^'  '^^  ^  ^"-  -t  whetherTl  per- 

commtndr^' •  ''  ''''  ^°^'  ^^^  ^  -^^^^  ^or  this  was  I 
D^A  ^Ye^^f  ^'^  "^^  ^f '^  "P^°  *^°se  about  to  die. 

due'^ho^orL"  °°*-*  ^^"^^^^  *^«^  ^  *oo  -  ^^gtl'v^f^  my 
Ap  Thou  canst  not,  however,  take  more  than  one  life 
Dea.  When  the  young  die  I  earn  the  greater  gfo^ 

.eem?raXri"iIttef  o7:ur^^^^^^^^^^^  this  translation  of  eANATOI :  it 
•  name  clearly  sub  Suted ?s  hVS*!  ^^/^f ^ ^" ''^Pt the  Latin  (.rcits. 
line  gender.    ^      "»"'"ted  as  the  nearest  to  GaNaTOZ  of  the  mascu' 

•  Cf.  ^ch.  Eum.  723  sqq.     B. 


Ap.  And  if  she  die  old,  she  will  be  sumptuously  entombed.* 

Dea.  Thou  layest  down  the  law,  Phoebus,  in  favor  of  the  rich. 

Ap.  How  sayest  thou  ?  what  ?  hast  thou  been  clever  with- 
out my  perceiving  it  ? 

Dea.  Those  who  have  means  would  purchase  to  die  old. 

Ai'.  Doth  it  not  then  seem  good  to  thee  to  grant  me  this 
favor  ? 

Dea.  No  in  truth ;  and  thou  knowest  my  ways, 

Ap.  Yes,  hostile  to  mortals,  and  detested  by  the  Gods. 

Dea.  Thou  canst  not  have  all  things,  which  thou  oughtest 
not. 

Ap.  Nevertheless,  thou  wilt  stop,  though  thou  art  over- 
fierce  ;  such  a  man  will  come  to  the  house  of  Pheres,  whom 
Eurystheus  hath  sent  after  the  chariot  and  its  horses,''  to  bring 
them  from  the  wintry  regions  of  Thrace,  who  in  sooth,  being 
welcomed  in  the  mansions  of  Admetus,  shall  take  away  by 
force  this  woman  from  thee ;  and  there  will  be  no  obligation 
to  thee  at  my  bands,  but  still  thou  wilt  do  this,  and  wilt  be 
haled  by  me. 

Dea.  Much  though  thou  talkest,  thou  wilt  gain  nothing. 
This  woman  then  shall  descend  to  the  house  of  Pluto ;  and  I 
am  advancing  upon  her,  that  I  may  begin  the  rites  on  her 
with  my  sword ;  for  sacred  is  he  to  the  Gods  beneath  the 
earth,  the  hair  of  whose  head  this  sword  hath  consecrated.* 

Chorus. 

Sejiicii.  Wherefore  in  heaven's  name  is  this  stillness  before 
the  palace?  why  is  the  house  of  Admetus  hushed  in  silence* 

Semich.  But  there  is  not  even  one  of  our  friends  near,  who 
can  tell  us  whether  we  have  to  deplore  the  departed  queen,  or 
whether  Alcestis,  daughter  of  Pelias,  yet  living  views  this 
light,  who  has  appeared  to  me  and  to  all  to  have  been  the 
best  wife  toward  her  husband. 

CiiOR.  Jlears  any  one  either  a  wailing,  or  the  beating  of 

*  It  \pa8  customary  to  bury  those,  who  died  advanced  in  years,  with 
greater  magnificence  than  young  persons. 

'  The  horses  of  Diomed.  king  of  Thrace.    The  construction  is.  Evpwff- 
/'fwf  iriui-avTOi  '  avTov\  utru  ikkciov  oxv/^a  [u^ovra\  Ik  tovuv  dvoxti 
ficpu^i  QprfKTi^.     Monk. 

•  On  this  custom,  see  Monk,  and  Lomeier  de  Lueirationibua, 
§  xwiii.     B 

Vol.  1— K 


c 


ALCESTIS. 


[87-186. 


/ 


hands  within  the  Iiousc,  or  a  lamentation,  as  though  the  thin<* 
had  taken  place  P  There  is  not  however  any  one  of  the  serv° 
ants  standing  before  the  gates.  Oh  would  that  thou  wouldst 
appear,  O  Apollo,  amidst  the  waves  of  this  calamity! 

Semicii.  They  would  not  however  be  silent,  were  she  dead 
Semicii.  For  the  corse  is  certainly  not  gone  from  the  house. 
Semicii.  Whence  this  conjecture  ?     I  do  not  presume  this. 
What  IS  It  gives  you  confidence? 

Semicii.  How  could  Admetus  have  made  a  private  funeral 
of  his  80  excellent  wife  ? 

Chor.  But  before  the  gates  I  see  not  the  bath  of  water  from 
the  fountain,'"  as  is  the  custom  at  the  gates  of  the  dead :  and 
m  the  vestibule  is  no  shorn  hair,  which  is  wont  to  fall  in  grief 
for  the  dead;  the  youthful"  hand  of  women  for  the  vouthful 
wife  sound  not. 

Semich.  And  yet  this  is  the  appointed  day, 

Semich.  What  is  this  thou  sayest  1 
Semich.  In  the  which  she  must  go  beneath  the  earth. 
Semicii.  Thou  hast  touched  my  soul,  hast  touched  my  heart 
Semich.  When  the  good  are  afflicted,  he  must  mourn,  who 
from  the  beginning  has  been  accounted  good. 

CnoR.  But  there  is  not  whither  in  the  earth  any  one  having 
sent  naval  equipment,  or  to  Lycia,  or  to  the  thirsty  site  of 
Hammon's  temple,  can  redeem  the  unhappy  woman's  life  for 
abrupt  fate  approaches,  and  I  know  not  to  whom  of  those  that 
sacrifice  at  the  hearths  of  the  Gods  I  can  go.     But  only  if  the 
son  of  Phoebus  were  viewing  with  his  eyes  this  light,  could 
she  come,  having  left  the  darksome  habitations  and  the  gates 
of  Pluto ;  for  he  raised  up  the  dead,  before  that  the  stroke  of 
the  lightning's  fire  hurled  by  Jove  destroyed  him.     But  now 
what  hope  of  life  can  I  any  longer  entertain  ?     For  all  things 
have  already  been  done  by  the  king,  and  at  the  altars  of  all 
the  Crod3  abound  the  victims  dropping  with  blood,  and  no 
cure  is  there  of  these  evils. 

'  Perhaps,  "as  though  all  were  over."     B 

••  Casaubon  on  Theonhr.  §  16,  observes  that  it  was  customarv  to 
placo  a  large  vessel  filled  with  lustral  water  before  the  doors  of  a  h^us* 
tfuring  the  tirno  the  corpse  was  lying  out.  with  which  everv  one  who 
.-am*  out  sprinkled  h.imelf.     See  also  Monk's  note.  Kirchmann  ae  Fi> 

?«»L    r*  "!:  ®  T>T,     ^""".^  ^^'^'^^"^  ^"^  observed  on  returning  from  tb« 
fnnwaL    bee  PoUux.  vuL  7.  p.  391,  ed.  Seber.    B 
S«:e  Dindorf    B 


1S7— 158.J 


ALCESTIS 


')' 


Chorus,  Female  Attendant. 

Chor.  But  here  comes  one  of  the  female  attendants  from  the 
house,  in  tears  ;  what  shall  I  hear  has  happened  ?  To  mourn 
indeed,  if  any  thing  happens  to  our  lords,  is  pardonable :  but 
whether  the  lady  be  still  alive,  or  whether  she  be  dead,  wc 
would  wish  to  know. 

AiT.  You  may  call  her  both  alive  and  dead. 

Chor.  And  how  can  the  same  woman  be  both  alive  and 
dead? 

Att.  Akeady  she  is  on  the  verge  of  death, '^  and  breathing 
her  life  away. 

Chor.  Oh  wretched  man,  being  what  thyself  of  what  a  wife 
art  thou  berefk ! 

Att.  My  master  knows  not  this  yet,  until  he  suffer. 

CiiOR.  Is  there  no  longer  hope  that  she  may  save  her  life  * 

Att.  iV^o,  for  the  destined  day  makes  its  attack  upon  her. 

Chor.  Arc  not  then  suitable  preparations  made  for  these 
events  ? 

Att.  Yes,  the  adornments' ^  are  ready,  wherewith  her  hus- 
band will  buiy  her. 

Chor.  Let  her  know  then  that  she  will  die  glorious,  and  by 
far  the  best  of  women  under  the  sun. 

Att.  And  how  not  the  best  ?  who  will  contest  it  ?  What 
must  the  woman  be,  who  has  surpassed  her  ?  and  how  can  any 
give  greater  proof  of  esteeming  her  husband,  than  by  being 
willing  to  die  for  him  ?  And  these  things  indeed  the  whole 
city  knoweth.  But  what  she  did  in  the  house  you  will  mar- 
vel when  you  hoar.     For,  when  she  perceived  that  the  dcs- 

"  Potterus,  Arch.  Gr.  mortuos  a  Grajcis  ffpovcjn-ftf  vocari  tradit,  quod 
fiolebont  ex  pcnitiore  aedium  parte  produci,  ac  in  vestibulo,  i.  e.  npovuiriu 
collocari:  atquc  hunc  locum  adducit,  sed  frustra,  ut  opinor.  Non  enim 
viortiiaj&m  erat,  nee  producla,  scd,  ut  recte  banc  vocem  interpretatur 
Bchol.  etc  duvarov  irpovevtvKvla,  i.  e.  morti  propinqua.  Proprie  npovu- 
ir^C  is  dioitur,  qui  corporc  prono  ad  terrain  fertur,  ut  .^schyl.  Agam 
242.  Inde,  quia  morioundi  virium  defectu  tcrram  petere  solcnt,  ad  hos 
designandos  translatum  est     Kuinoel. 

"The  old  word  "  dizening"  is  perhaps  the  most  literal  translation 
of  Koafioc,  which,  however,  here  moans  the  whole  preparations  for  the 
funeral.    Something  like  it  is  implied  in  Hamlet,  v.  1. 

....  her  viririn  rites, 
Her  maiden  strewments,  and  the  bringing  homo 
Of  bell  and  burial     li 


8 


ALCESTIS. 


[j  59—201. 


202—242.] 


ALCESTIS. 


9 


tmed  day  was  come,  she  washed  her  fair  skin  with  water  from 
the  river;  and  having  taken  from  her  closets  of  cedar  vesture 
p.nd  ornaments,  she  attired  herself  becomingly ;  and  standin'r 
before  the  altar  she  prayed :  "  O  mistress,  since  I  go  beneath 
the  earth,  adoring  thee  for  the  last  time,  I  will  beseech  thee  to 
protect  my  orphan  children,  and  to  the  one  join  a  loving  wife 
and  to  the  other  a  noble  husband  :  nor,  as  their  mother 
penshes,  let  my  children  untimely  die,  but  happy  in  their 

paternal  country  let  them  complete  a  joyous  life." But 

aU  the  altars,  which  are  in  the  house  of  Admctus,  she  went 
to,  and  crowned,  and  prayed,  tearing  the  leaves  from  off  the 
myrtle  boughs,  tearless,  without  a  groan,  nor  did  the  ap- 
proaching  evil  change  the  natural  beauty  of  her  skin  And 
then  rushing  to  her  chamber,  and  her  bed,  there  indeed  she 
wept  and  spoke  thus:  «0  bridal  bed,  whereon  I  loosed  my 
virgin  zone  with  this  man,  for  whom  I  die,  farewell !  for  I 
hate  thee  not ;  but  me  alone  hast  thou  lost ;  for  dreading  to 
betray  thee,  and  my  husband,  I  die  ;  but  thee  some  other 
woman  will  possess,  more  chaste  there  can  not,  but  perchance 

more  fortunate."^* And  falling  on  it  she  kissed  it;  but  all 

the  bed  was  bathed  with  the  flood  that  issued  from  her  eyes. 
But  when  she  had  satiety  of  much  weeping,  she  goes  hastily 
forward,'^  rushing  from  the  bed.     And  ofttimes  having  left 
her  chamber,  she  oft  returned,  and  threw  herself  upon  the  bed 
again.     And  her  children,  hanging  to  the  garments  of  their 
mother,  wept ;  but  she,  taking  them  in  her  arms,  embraced 
them,  first  one  and  then  the  other,  as  about  to  die.     But  all 
the  domestics  wept  throughout  the  house,  bewailing  their  mis- 
tress, but  she  stretched  out  her  right  hand  to  each,  and  there 
was  none  so  mean,  whom  she  addressed  not,  and  was  answer- 
ed in  return.     Such  are  the  woes  in  the  house  of  Admetus. 
And  had  he  died  indeed,  he  would  have  perished ;  but  now 
that  he  has  escaped  death,  he  has  grief  to  that  degree  which 
he  will  never  forget  > 

Chor.  Surely  Admetus  groans  at  these  evils,  if  he  must  be 
deprived  of  so  excellent  a  wife. 

Att.  Yes.  he  weeps,  holding  his  dear  wife  in  his  hands, 

'♦  Aristophanes  u  almost  too  bad  in  his  burlesque.  Equit  1251.  oi  «r 
louT  B*"  *f«"7«rai,  KXeTTTvc   fuv  ovk   uv  fidUot^,  «rv^//f  6' 

••  Some  would  translate  npovu,irr,r  i„  the  same  manner  na  in  verse  144. 


and  prays  her  not  to  leave  him,  asking  impossibilities ;  for 
slic  wastes  away,  and  is  consumed  by  sickness,  but  fainting  a 
wretched  burden  in  his  arms,  yet  still  though  but  feebly  breath- 
ing, she  fain  would  glance  toward  the  rays  of  the  sun ;  as 
though  never  again,  but  now  for  the  last  time  she  is  to  view 
the  sun's  beam  and  his  orb.  But  I  will  go  and  announce  your 
presence,  for  it  is  by  no  means  all  that  are  well-wishers  to 
their  lords,  so  as*  to  come  kindly  to  them  in  their  misfortunes ; 
but  you  of  old  are  friendly  to  ray  master. 

SEjncH.  O  Jove,  what  means  of  escape  can  there  in  any 
T\-ay  be,  and  what  method  to  rid  us  of  the  fortune  which  at- 
tends my  master  ? 

Semicii.  Will  any  appear?  or  must  I  cut  my  locks,  and 
clothe  me  even  now  in  black  array  of  garments? 

SE>ncn.  'Tis  plain,  my  friends,  too  plain ;  but  still  let  us 
pray  to  the  Gods,  for  the  power  of  the  Gods  is  mightiest. 

Semicii.  O  Apollo,  king  of  healing,  find  out  some  remedy 
for  the  evils  of  Admetus,  procure  it,  O !  procure  it.  For  be- 
fore this  also  thou  didst  find  remedy,  and  now  become  our  de- 
hvcrer  from  death,  and  stop  the  murderous  Pluto. 

Semich.  Alas !  aias !  woe !  woe !  O  son  of  Pheres,  bow 
did-t  thou  fare  when  thou  wert  deprived  of  thy  wife  ? 

Semkh.  Alas!  alas!  these  things  would  even  justify  self- 
slaughter,  and  there  is  more,  than  whereat  one  might  thrust 
one's  neck  in  the  suspending  noose."* 

Semich.  For  not  a  dear,  but  a  most  dear  wife,  wilt  thou 
see  dead  this  day. 

Semich.  Behold,  behold ;  lo !  she  doth  come  from  the 
house,  and  her  husband  with  her.  Cry  out,  O  groan,  O  land 
of  PhcTCs,  for  the  mo^t  excellent  woman,  wasting  with  sick- 
ness, dcpanoifj  beneath  the  earth  to  theinfernal  Pluto.  Never 
will  1  aver  that  marriage  brings  more  joy  than  grief,  form- 
ing my  conjecture"?  both  from  former  thing*,  and  beholding 
thi"*  fortune  of  the  king ;  ^^ho,  w)\en  ho  has  lust  thifl  most  ex- 
cellent \%ifo.  will  thenceforward  pass  a  life  not  worthy  to  be 
called  ijlc.  ' 

"  Co>  f  Tor  .  Phorm.  iv  4  5  Opera  tua  ad  resUm  mihi  quidem  res 
Tzi\  t  plani»sumo  .    . 

'"  Ferhnp^  it  i*  unnecessary  to  remark,  that  c^tHfov  agrees  witli  t^tov 
implied  in  fitorivait. 


10 


ALCESTia 


[243—286. 


Alcestis.  Admetus.  Eumelus,  Chorus. 


Adm    He  beholds'8  thee  and  me,  two  unhappy  creatures, 
having  done  nothing  to  the  Gods,  for  which  thou  shouldst 

Ar.c.  O  earth,  and  ye  roofs  of  the  palace,  and  thou  bridal 
bed  of  my  native  lolcos. 

i..t!'*x    ^'^'  "P  %s«lf»  unhappy  one,  desert  me  not;  but  en- 
treat the  powerful  Gods  to  pity. 

r.rtu%  ^'T7i  ^^\^^  two-oared  boat~and  the  ferryman 
of  the  dead,  ho  ding  his  hand  on  the  pole— Charon  even  now 

W'^^^T^'^^  ^°''  '^^^  ^^^"^-  ^^«^^'  '^^^  stoppest  uT 
^  Here  —with  such  words  vehement  he  hastens  me. 

Adm.  Ah  me !  a  bitter  voyage  this  thou  speakest  of!     Oh » 
unhappy  one,  how  do  we  suffer ! 

♦  '^u''^V^f  ^n^^  ™®'  ^^^^  °"^  P""s  me— do  you  not  see?— 
to  the  ha  1  of  the  dead,  the  winged  Pluto,  staring  from  be- 
neath his  black  eyebrows— What  wilt  thou  do?— let  me  go— 
what  a  journey  am  I  most  wretched  going ! 

Adm.  Mournful  to  thy  friends,  and  of  these  especially  to 
me  and  to  thy  children,  who  have  this  grief  in  common. 

Alc.  Leave  off  >»  supporting  me,  leave  off  now,  lay  me 
down,  I  have  no  strength  in  my  feet.  Death  is  near,  and 
darkling  night  creeps  upon  mine  eyes— my  children,  my  chil- 
dren, no  more  your  mother  is— no  more— Farewell,  my  chil- 
dren, long  may  you  view  this  light ! 

Adm.  Ah  me !  I  hear  this  sad  word,  and  more  than  any 
death  to  me  Do  not  by  the  Gods  have  the  heart  to  leave 
me :  do  not  by  those  children,  whom  thou  wilt  make  orphans  : 
but  rise,  be  of  good  courage:  for,  thee  dead,  I  should  no 
onger  be :  for  on  thee  we  depend  both  to  live,  and  not  to 
live ;  for  thy  love  w©  adore. 

Alc  Admetus.  thou  seest  both  thy  affairs  and  mine,  in 
wha  state  they  arc.  I  wish  to  tell  thee,  ere  I  die,  what  I 
would  have  done.  I,  honoring  thee,  and  causing  thee  at  the 
nl?*',  °^.'">;^'^\^°  ^'^^  this  light,  die,  it  being  ,n  my  power 
not  to  die,  for  thee :  but  though  I  might  have  married  a  hua- 


28.5—324.] 


ALCESTIS. 


11 


"  6^  Milicet  ff},iof.    Mo.vk. 


»»  a  HippoL  1872.    a 


band  from  among  the  Thessalians  whom  I  would,  and  have 
lived  in  a  palace  blessed  with  regal  sway,  was  not  willing  to 
live,  bereft  of  thee,  with  my  children  orphans ;  nor  did  I  spare 
myself,  though  possessing  the  gifts  of  bloomy  youth,  wherein 
I  delighted.    And  yet  ihy  father  and  thy  mother  forsook  thee, 
though  they  had  well  arrived  at  a  point  of  life,  in  which  they 
might  have  died,  and  nobly  delivered  their  son,  and  died  with 
glory :  for  thou  wcrt  their  only  one,  and  there  was  no  hope, 
when  thou  wert  dead,  that  they  could  have  other  children.  2« 
And  I  should  have  lived,  and  thou,  the  rest  of  our  time.    And 
thou  \vouldst  not  be  groaning  deprived  of  thy  wife,  and  wouldst 
not  have  to  bring  up  thy  children  orphans.     But  these  things 
indeed,  some  one  of  the  Gods  hath  brought  to  pass,  that  they 
should  be  thus.     Be  it  so — but  do  thou  remember  to  give  me 
a  return  for  this ;  for  never  shall  I  ask  thee  for  an  equal  one, 
(for  nothing  is  more  precious  thp.n  life,)  but  just,  as  thou  wilt 
say :  for  thou  lovest  not  these  children  less  than  I  do,  if  thou 
art  right-minded ;  them  bring  up  lords  over  my  house,  and 
brin<'  not  in  second  marriage  a  step-mother  over  these  chil- 
dren°  who,  being  a  worse  woman  than  me,  through  envy  will 
stretch  out  her  hand  against  thine  and  my  children.     Do  not 
this  then.  I  beseech  thee ;  for  a  step-mother  that  is  in  second 
marriage' is  enemy  to  the  children  of  the  former  mamage,  no 
milder  "than  a  viper.     And  my  boy  indeed  has  his  father,  a 
great  tower  of  defense ;  but  thou,  O  my  child,  how  wilt  thoa 
be  brought  up  during  thy  virgin  years  ?     Having  what  con- 
sort of  thy  father's?     I  fear,  lest  casting  some  e%il  obloquy 
on  thee,  slie  destroys  thy  marriage  in  the  bloom  of  youth.-^' 
For  neither  will  thy  mother  ever  preside  over  thy  nuptials,  nor 
strengthen  thee  being  present,  my  daughter,  at  thy  travails, 
where  nothing  is  more  kind  than  a  mother.     For  I  needs  must 
die,  and  this  evil  comes  upon  me  not  to-morrow,  nor  on  the 
third  day  of  the  month,  but  immediately  shall  I  be  numbered 
among  tho.se  that  are  no  more.     Farewell,  and  may  you  be 
happy ;  and  thou  indeed,  my  husband,  mayst  boast,  that  thou 

"  It  must  be  remembered  that  to  survive  one's  uhildrea  A^as  con- 
sidered the  greatest  of  misfortunes.  Cf.  Plaut.  Mil.  Glor.  1.  1.  '*  Ita 
ut  tuum  vis  unicum  gnatum  tuae  Superesse  vitse,  sosi)item  et  euper- 
•tilem."     B. 

"  Kuinoel  carries  on  the  intorrogfntioa  to  ya//ovf,  and  Buchanan  has 
translated  it  according  to  this  punctuation.  Monk  ccrofares  Iliad,  p. 
96 ',  nijnuc  fte  irepioTe?^ua'  tva  n'oAAot. 


12 


ALCESTIS 


[324— 3C3. 


haJ.t  a  most  excellent  wife,  and  jou,  my  children,  that  you 
were  born  of  a  most  excellent  mother.  "^ 

Chor^  lie  of  good  cheer,  for  1  A-.r  not  to  answer  for  him: 
he  V.  ill  do  this,  li  he  be  not  bereft  of  hi.  ^en.es 

Adm.  These  thing.,  shall  be  so,  they  .hall  be,  fear  nor  • 

ZV^al'r     I'l  t''  P'"?^^^  '^'''  "^^-'  ^"'J  -l-n  thou 
shall  address  me  m  the  place  of  thee:  there  is  not  woman 
who  .hall    euher  of  so  noble  a  sire,  nor  otherwise  nlTlZ 
quHue  in  beauty      But  my  children  are  enough ;  of  the<e*  I 
pia>  the  Go<ls  that  I  may  have  the  enjoyment^  for  t     e  we 
do  not  enjoy       But  I  shall  not  lune  tins' .nefibr  thee  for\ 
}ear,  but  as  long  a.  my  life  endures.  O  lady,  abhorrin-^  her 
indeed  that  brought  me  forth,  and  hating  ni>^father;  f^Mlu'v 
were  m  word,  not  in  deed,  my  friends.     But  thou,  gi  in.,  w Iru 
was  dearest  to  thee  for  my  hfe.  hast  rescued  me.     Hav^  Ino 
then  reason  to  groan  deprn  ed  of  .such  a  wife  ?    But  I  will  „ut 

Zl^r  \?  1        T''';  "'"1  '^'  "^'''"'^^  ^^  '^'^''  t^«t  drink  to- 
gether,  and  garland  and  song,  which  wont  to  dwell  i„  my 

house      For  neither  can  I  any  more  touch  the  lyre,  nor  litt 

«p  my  heart  to  sing  to  the  Libyan  flute:  for  thou  hast  taken 

away  my  joy  of  life.      But  by  the  cunning  hand  of  artists 

.mnged  thy  hgure  shall  be  lain  on  my  bridafbed,  on  which  f 

wil    tall,  and  clasping  my  hands  around,  calling  on  thy  naL 

hall  fancy  that  I  hold  my  dear  wife  in  minc^  arm/thorh 

holding  her  not  :^  a  cold  delight,  I  ween;  but  still   J  n  f  y 

draw  off  the  weight  that  sits  upon  my  soul :  and  in  my  dreams 

to  bdiold  at  night  for  whatever  time  he  may  come.  But  ? 
he  tongue  of  Orpheus  and  his  strain  were  mine,  so  that  in- 
poking  with  hymns  the  daughter  of  Ceres  or  he;  husband  I 
could  receive  thee  from  the  shades  below,  I  woul  1  descend 
and  neither  the  dog  of  Pluto,  nor  Charon  at  his  oar.  the  fer-' 
rvman  oi  departed  spirits,  should  stay  me  belore  J  brou.^ht 

^Zu'u^n  o°  ''^"^'^V-  1^"^  '^^^'^  ^'-Pect  me  when  I  di.  ^nd 
pupaic  a  mansion  for  me,  as  about  to  .Iwell  with  me.  For  I 
w-ill  enjoin  thesc;3  to  place  me  ,n  the  same  cedar  with  thee, 
and  to  lay  my  side  near  thy  side:  for  not  even  when  ueaU 
may  I  be  separated  from  thee,  the  only  faithful  one  lo  me ! 

TViM-,  my  cmldr«!.i.  I'i      « 


869-413.] 


ALCESTia 


13 


Ckor.  And  I  indeed  with  thee,  as  a  friend  with  a  friend, 
will  bear  this  painful  grief  for  her,  for  she  is  worthy. 

Alc.  My  children,  ye  indeed  hear  your  father  saying  that 
he  will  never  marry  another  wife  to  be  over  you,  nor  dis- 
honor me. 

Adm.  And  now  too,  I  say  this,  and  will  perfonn  it. 

Alc.  For  this  receive  these  children  from  my  hand. 

Adm.  Yes,  I  receive  a  dear  gift  from  a  dear  hand. 

Alc.  Be  thou  then  a  mother  to  these  children  in  my  stead. 

Adm.  There  is  much  need  that  I  should,  when  they  are 
deprived  of  thee. 

Alc.  O  my  children,  at  a  time  when  I  ought  to  live  I  de- 
part beneath. 

Adm.  Ah  me ;  what  shall  I  do  of  thee  bereaved ! 

Alg,  Time  will  soften  thy  grief:  he  that  is  dead  is  nothing. 

Adm.  Take  me  with  thee,  by  the  Gods  take  me  beneath. 

Alc.  Enough  are  we  to  go^  who  die  for  thee. 

Adm.  O  fate,  of  what  a  wife  thou  deprivest  me ! 

Alc.  And  lo !  my  darkening  eye  is  weighed  down. 

Adm.  I  am  undone  then,  if  thou  ■^^lt  leave  me,  my  wrife. 

Alc.  As  being  no  more,  you  may  speak  of  me  as  nothing. 

Adm.  Lift  up  thy  face ;  do  not  leave  thy  children. 

Alc.  Not  willingly  in  sooth,  but — farewell,  my  children. 

Adm.  Look  on  them,  O !  look. 

Alc.  I  am  no  more. 

Adm.  What  dost  thou?  dost  thou  leave  us  I 

Ai.c.  Farewell ! 

Adm.  I  am  an  undone  wretch  I 

Chor.  She  is  gone,  Admetus'  wife  is  no  more. 

EuM.  Alas  me,  for  my  state !  my  mother  is  gone  indeed 
below ;  she  is  no  longer,  my  father,  under  the  sun ;  but  un- 
happy leaving  me  has  made  my  life  an  orphan's.  For  look, 
look  at  her  eyelid,  and  her  nerveless  arms.  Hear,  hear,  O 
mother,  I  beseech  thee ;  I,  I  now  call  thee,  mother,  thy  young 
one  falling  on  thy  mouth 

Adm.  Who  hears  not.  neither  sees :  so  that  I  an^  you  are 
struck  with  a  heavy  calamity. 

EcM.  Young  and  deserted,  my  father,  am  I  left  by  my  dear 
mother:  O!  I  that  have  suffered  indeed  dreadful  deeds! — 
and  thou  hast  suffered  with  me.  my  sister.  O  father,  in  vain, 
in  vain  didst  thou  marry,  nor  witli  her  didst  thou  arrive  at 

K2 


14 


ALCESTIS 


[414—459. 


the  end  of  old  age,  for  she  perished  before,  but  thou  being 
gone,  mother,  the  house  is  undone. 

Chok.  Admetus,  you  must  bear  this  calamity ;  for  in  no  wise 
the  first,  nor  the  last  of  mortals  hast  thou  lost  thy  dear  wife  • 
but  learn,  that  to  die  is  a  debt  we  must  aU  of  us  discharge 

Adm.  I  know  it,  and  this  evil  hath  not  come  suddenly'on 
me ;  but  knowing  it  long  ago  I  was  afflicted.  But  be  present, 
for  I  will  have  the  corse  borne  forth,  and  while  ye  stay,  chant 

^,  ^^'^i?  '^®  ^""^  ^^^^"^  ^^^'  accepteth  not  libations.  And 
all  the  rhessalians,  over  whom  I  reign,  I  enjoin  to  share  in 
the  grief  for  this  lady,  by  shearing  their  locks  with  steel,  and 
by  arraying  themselves  in  sable  garb.  And  harness^*  your 
teams  of  horses  to  your  chariots,  and  cut  from  your  sinde 
steeds  the  manes  that  fall  upon  their  necks.  And  let  there 
be  no  noise  of  pipes,  nor  of  the  lyre  throughout  the  city  for 
twelve  completed  moons.  For  none  other  corse  more  dear 
shall  I  inter,  nor  one  more  kind  toward  me.  But  she  de- 
serves to  receive  honor  from  me,  seeing  that  she  alone  hath 
died  for  me. 

Chorus. 

O  daughter  of  Pelias,  farewell  where  thou  dwellest  in  sun- 
less dwelling  within  the  mansions  of  Pluto.  And  let  Pluto 
know,  the  God  with  ebon  locks,  and  the  old  man,  the  feriy- 
man  of  the  dead,  who  sits  intent  upon  his  oar  and  his  rudder, 
that  he  is  conducting  by  far  the  most  excellent  of  women  in 
his  two-oared  boat  over  the  lake  of  Acheron.  Oft  shall  the 
servants  of  the  Muses  sing  of  thee,  celebrating  thee  both  on 
the  seven-stringed  lute  on  the  mountains,  and  in  hymns  un- 
accompanied by  the  lyre :  in  Sparta,  when  returns  the  annual 
circle  m  the  season  of  the  Carnean  month,^^  when  -the  moon 
18  up  the  whole  night  long;  and  in  splendid^s  and  happy 
Athens.  Such  a  song  hast  thou  left  by  thy  death  to  the  min- 
strels of  melodies.  Would  that  it  rested  with  me,  and  that 
I  could  waft  thee  to  the  light  from  the  mansions  of  Pluto, 
and  from  gocytus'  streams,  by  the  oar  of  that  infernal  river. 

••  Reiske  proposes  to  read  ridptnira  6i  {Wyi;  re  koL And  both 

•''*2r*'ri°"'V     •'*'°'  '***'"*•  <^'^^/rom  I'our  tingle  hortea  cut  the  manea. 

Ims  festival  vas  celebrated  in  honor  of  Apollo  at  Sparta,  from  th« 
Mventh  to  the  sixteenth  day  of  the  month  Carn«u»,    Se«  Moik.    B. 

»•  Oo  Xtnapait  'Aedvaic,  see  Monk.    B. 


400—493.] 


ALCESTIS. 


15 


For  thou,  O  unexampled,  0  dear  among  women,  thou  didst 
dar6  to  receive  thy  husband  from  the  realms  below  in  ex- 
change for  thine  own  life.  Light  m.ay  the  earth  from  above 
fall  upon  thee,  lady  I  and  if  thy  husband  chooses  any  other 
alliance,  surely  he  will  be  much  detested  by  me  and  by  thy 
children.  When  his  mother  was  not  willing  for  him  to  hide 
her  body  in  the  ground,  nor  his  aged  father,  but  these  two 
wretches,  having  hoary  locks,  dared  not  to  rescue  him  they 
brought  forth,  yet  thou  in  the  vigor  of  youth  didst  depart, 
having  died  for  thy  husband.  May  it  be  mine  to  meet  with 
another-*  such  a  dear  wife ;  for  rare  in  life  is  such  a  portion, 
for  surely  she  would  live  with  me  forever  without  once  causing 
pain. 

Hercules,  Chorus. 

Her.  Strangers,  inhabitants  of  the  land  of  Pheres,  can  I 
find  Admetus  within  the  palace? 

CiiOR.  The  son  of  Pheres  is  within  the  palace,  O  Hercules. 
But  tell  me,  what  purpose  sends  thee  to  the  land  of  the  Thes- 
salians,  so  that  thou  comest  to  this  city  of  Pheres? 

11 ER.  I  am  performing  a  certain  labor  for  the  Tiiynthian 
Eurysthcus. 

CnoR.  And  whither  goest  thou?  on  what  wandering  expe- 
dition art  bound  ? 

Her.  After  the  four  chariot-steeds  of  Diomed  the  Thracian. 

CiiOR.  How  wilt  thou  be  able  ?  Art  thou  ignorant  of  this 
host? 

Her.  I  am  ignorant ;  I  have  not  yet  been  to  the  land  of  the 
Bistonians. 

CiiOR.  Thou  canst  not  be  lord  of  these  steeds  without 
battle. 

Her.  Put  neither  is  it  possible  for  me  to  renounce  the  la- 
bors set  me. 

Chor.  Thou  wilt  come  then  having  slain,  or  being  slain  wilt 
remain  there. 

Her.  Not  the  first  contest  this  that  I  shall  run. 

CiiOK.  But  what  advance  will  you  have  made,  when  you 
have  overcome  their  master? 

Her.  I  will  drive  away  the  horses  to  king  Eurysthcus. 

Chor.  *Tis  no  easy  matter  to  put  the  bit  in  their  jaws. 
•*  Literally,  the  duplicate  of  such  a  wife. 


16 


ALCESTIS 


[494—624. 


Her.  *Tis,  except  they  breathe  fire  from  their  nostrils. 
Chor.  But  they  tear  men  piecemeal  w^th  their  devotrrinff 
jaws.  ° 

Her.  The  provender  ifi  mountain  beasts,  not  horses,  you 
are  speaking  of. 

Chor.  Their  stalls  thou  mayst  behold  with  blood  bestained. 
Her.  Son  of  what  sire  does  their  owner  boast  to  be  ? 
Chor.  Of  Mars,  prince28  of  the  Thracian  target,'  rich  with 
gold. 

Her.  And  this  labor,  thou  talkest  of,  is  one  my  fate  com- 
pels me  to  (for  it  is  ever  hard  and  tends  to  steeps) ;  if  I  must 
join  in  battle  with  the  children  whom  JMars  begat,  first  indeed 
with  Lycaon,  and  again  with  Cycnus,  and  I  come  to  this  third 
combat,  about  to  engage  with  the  horses  and  their  master. 
But  none  there  is,  who  shall  ever  see  the  son  of  Alcmena  fear- 
ing the  hand  of  his  enemies. 

Chor,  And  lo!  hither  comes  the  very  man  Admetus,  lord 
of  this  land,  from  out  of  the  palace. 

Admetus,  Hercules,  Cfloffeus. 

Adm.  Hail !  O  son  of  Jove,  and  of  the  blood  of  Perseus. 
Her.  Admetus,  hail  thou  too,  king  of  the  Thessalians ! 
Adm.  I  would  I  could  receive  this  salutation;  but  I  know 
that  thou  art  well  disposed  toward  me. 

Her.  Wherefore  art  thou  conspicuous  with  thy  locks  shorn 
for  grief? 

Adm.  I  am  about  to  bury  a  certain  corse  this  day. 
Her.  May  the  God  avert  calamity  from  thy  children! 
Adm.  My  children  whom  I  begat,  live  in  the  house. 
Her.  Thy  father  however  is  of  full  age,  if  he  is  gone. 
Adm.  Both  he  lives,  and  she  who  bore  me,  Hercules. 
Her.  Surely  your  wife  Alcestis  is  not  dead  ? 
Adm.  There  are  two  accounts  which  I  ma^  tell  of  her. 
Her.  Speakest  thou  of  her  as  dead  or  as  alive? 
Adm.  She  both  is,  and  is  no  more,  and  she  grieves  me. 
Her.  I  know  nothing  more ;  for  thou  speakest  things  ob- 
scure. 

Adm.  Knowest  thou  not  the  fate  which  it  was  doomed  for 
her  to  meet  with  ? 

"  uva^  jre^TJ7f,  so  dvaf  Kuiftfi  in  JE»q}l  Pera.  884,  of  a  rimtr.    W«k«- 
field  comparea  Ovid'a  Clypti  (AmitniM  ttpfmpUei*  Jjax,    Mowl 


626— 565.J 


ALCESTIS. 


17 


Her.  I  know  that  she  took  upon  herself  to  die  for  thee. 

Adm.  How  then  is  she  any  more,  if  that  she  promised  this  ? 

Her.  Ah  !  do  not  weep  for  thy  wife  before  the  time ;  wait 
till  this  happens. 

Adm.  He  that  is  about  to  die  is  dead,  and  he  that  is  dead 
is  no  more. 

Her.  The  being  and  the  not  being  is  considered  a  different 
thing. 

Adm.  You  judge  in  this  way,  Hercules,  but  I  in  that. 

Her.  Why  then  dost  weep  ?  Who  is  he  of  thy  friends 
that  is  dead? 

Adm.  a  woman,  a  woman  we  were  lately  mentioning. 

Her.  a  stranger  by  blood,  or  any  by  birth  allied  to  thee  ? 

Adm.  a  stranger ;  but  on  other  account  dear  to  this  house. 

Her.  How  then  died  she  in  thine  house  ? 

Adm.  Her  father  dead,  she  lived  an  orphan  here. 

Her.  Alas !  Would  that  I  had  found  thee,  Admetus,  not 
mourning ! 

Adm.  As  about  to  do  what  then,  dost  thou  make  use  of 
these  words  ? 

Her.  I  will  go  to  some  other  hearth  of  those  who  will  re- 
ceive a  guest, 

Adm.  It  must  not  be,  O  king:  let  not  so  great  an  evil 
happen ! 

Her.  Troublesome  is  a  guest  if  he  come  to  mourners. 

Adm.  The  dead  are  dead — but  go  into  the  house. 

Her.  'Tis  base  however  to  feast  with  weeping  friends. 

Adm.  The  guest-chamber,  whither  we  will  lead  thee,  is 
apart. 

Her.  Let  me  go,  and  I  will  owe  you  ten  thousand  thanks. 

Adm.  It  must  not  be  that  thou  go  to  the  hearth  of  another 
rr^an.  Lead  on  thou,  having  thrown  open  the  guest-chamber 
that  is  separate  from  the  house :  and  tell  them  that  have  the 
management,  that  there  be  plenty  of  meats ;  and  shut  the 
gates  in  the  middle  of  the  hall :  it  is  not  meet  that  feasting 
guests  should  hear  groans,  nor  should  they  be  made  sad. 

Chor.  What  are  you  doing?  when  so  great  a  calamity  is 
before  you,  Admetus.  hast  thou  the  heart  to  receive  guests? 
wherefore  art  thou  foolish  ? 

Adm.  But  if  I  had  driven  him  who  came"  my  guest  from 
my  house,  and  from  the  city,  would  you  have  praised  me 


18 


ALCESTia 


[656--005. 


C06— 6S1.] 


rather  ?  No  in  sooth,  since  my  calamity  had  been  no  whit 
the  less,  but  I  the  more  inhospitable :  and  in  addition  to  my 
evils,  there  had  been  this  other  evil,  that  mine  should  be  called 
the  stranger-hating  house.  But  I  myself  find  this  man  a  most 
excellent  host,  whenever  I  go  to  the  thirsty  land  of  Argos. 

CnoR.  How  then  didst  thou  hide  thy  present  fate,  when  a 
fnend,  as  thou  thyself  sayest,  came  ? 

•r  ;^T"  j^®  "^^^^  ^^"^"^  ^^^^  ^^^°  ^^^^"^g  *o  enter  the  house 
If  he  had  known  aught  of  my  sufferings.  And  to  himss  in- 
deed, I  ween,  acting  thus,  I  appear  not  to  be  wise,  nor  will  he 
praise  me ;  but  my  house  knows  not  to  drive  away,  nor  to  dis- 
honor  guests. 

Chorus. 
O  greatly  hospitable  and  ever  liberal  house  of  this  man 
thee  even  the  Pythian  ApoUo,  master  of  the  lyre,  deigned  to 
inhabit    and  endured  to  become  a  shepherd  in  thine  abodes, 
through  the  sloping  hiUs  piping  to  thy  flocks  his  pastoral  nup! 
tial  hymns.     Aiid  there  were  wont  to  feed  with  them,  through 
delight  of  his  lays,  both  the  spotted  lynxes,  and  the  bloody 
troop  of  hons3o  came  having  left  the  forest  of  Othrys;  dis- 
ported  too  around  thy  cithern,  Phoebus,  the  dappled  fawn, 
advancing  with  light  pastern  beyond  the  lofty-feathered  pines, 
joying  in  the  gladdening  strain.    Wherefore  he  dwelleth  in  a 
home  most  rich  in  flocks  by  the  fair-flowing  lake  of  Boebe : 
and  to  the  tiUage  of  his  fields,  and  the  extent  of  his  plains 
toward  that  dusky  part  of  the  heavens,  where  the  sun  sta^ 
his  horses,  makes  the  clime  of  the  Molossians  the  limit,  and 
holds  dominion  as  far  as  the  portless  shore  of  the  ^gean  Sea 
at  Pehon.     And  now  having  thrown  open  his  house  he  hath 
received  lus  guest  with  moistened  eyelid,  weeping  over  the 
corae  of  his  dear  wife,  who  but  now  died  in  the  palace  :  for  a 
noble  disposition  is  prone  to  rererence  [of  the  guest!     But 
in  the  good  there  is  all  manner  of  wisdom.     And  confidence 
is  seated  on  my  soul  that  the  man  who  reveres  the  Gods  will 
tare  prosperously. 

I'  Heath  and  Markland  take  tu  lor  rtvt 

,1  n^nlJ^'-  ?'""'*'  ^r,  *  ie''^°'^  ^^*-»'  ^^i'^^'^^o'  davovra    .    noUai 
l^Tr^l^^::^,::^^    Calpu™iu..Ecl.!Ll8.    XemJ: 


ALCESTIS. 


Admetus,  Chorus- 


Id 


Adm.  Ye  men  of  Pherae  that  are  kindly  present,  my  serv- 
ants indeed  bear  aloft^'  the  corse,  having  every  thing  fit  for 
the  tomb,  and  for  the  pyre.  But  do  you.  as  is  the  custom, 
salute^-'  the  dead  going  forth  on  her  last  journey. 

Chor.  And  lo !  I  see  thy  father  advancing  with  his  aged 
foot,  and  attendants  bearing  in  their  hands  adornment  for  thy 
wife,  due  honors  of  those  beneath. 

Pheres,  Admetus,  Chorus. 

Fhe.  I  am  at  present  sympathizing  in  thy  misfortunes,  my 
son :  for  thou  hast  lost  (no  one  will  deny)  a  good  and  a  chaste 
wife ;  but  these  things  indeed  thou  must  bear,  though  hard  to 
be  borne.  But  receive  this  adornment,  and  let  it  go  with  her 
beneath  the  earth  :  Her  body 'tis  right  to  honor,  who  in  sooth 
died  to  save  thy  life,  my  son,  and  made  me  to  be  not  childless, 
nor  suffered  me  to  waste  away  deprived  of  thee  in  an  old  age 
of  misery.  But  she  has  made  most  illustrious  the  life  of  all 
women,  having  dared  this  noble  action.  O  thou  that  hast 
preserved  my  son  here,  and  hast  raised  us  up  who  were  fall- 
ing, farewell,"  and  may  it  be  well  with  thee  even  in  the  man- 
sions of  Pluto !  I  affirm  that  such  marriages  are  profitable  to 
men,  or  that  it  is  not  meet  to  marry. 

Adm.  Neither  hast  thou  come  bidden  of  me  to  this  funeral, 
nor  do  I  count  thy  presence  among  things  acceptable.  But 
she  here  never  shall  put  on  thy  decorations ;  for  in  no  wise 

"  apdrjv  yiverai  &nb  tov  alpciv.  dijlol  it  rb  <popdSr}v.     Schol. 

»  Cf.  Suppl.  7'73.  'Aidov  Tt'fioTiiriic  iKxeu  SaKpvppoov^,  ^t^wf  irpoa- 
aviCw,  uv  XtXeiUfUvo^  rdXag  Ipnfia  KXalu.  See  Gorius  Monum.  sive 
Columbar.  Libert  Florent.  cio.io.ccxxvii.  p.  186,  who  observes,  "AfoZpe 
was  the  accustomed  salutation  addressed  to  the  dead.  Catullus,  Carm. 
xcvii.  Aecipe  fraterno  multum  manantiafietu,  atque  in  perpetuum  fro- 
,  ter  HA  VE,  atque  VALE"  The  same  Bcholar  compares  a  monument 
apud  Fabretti,  cap.  v.  p.  S92,  n.  265,     . 

D  M 

ATK  SALVmiA 

OMNIVM    .     AMAN 

TissDfA  .  rr 

VALE, 

which  ia  very  apposite  to  the  present  occasion.     B. 

»  Wakefield  reads  Aa<>  t^v  kUov  dofioig;  having  m  his  mind  prob- 
ably Horn.  IL  ♦.  19.  Xaipi  fioi  u  UdrpoKKt,  kcI  elv  'AWoo  dofunai. 


•20 


ALCE^Tia 


[632— GT?. 


^73— "^lO] 


ALCESTia 


21 


pliall  slip  ]^  l.urird  indebted  fo  wlint  thou  hast.    Then  oimht 
est  thou  in  have  pli('^od  with  nm,  when  1  was  in  dance?  of 
IK'ii>hii.-    '     lint  doM  thou,  who  stoodrst  aloof,  and  pormit- 
tcd>t  anotlur.  .i  ymmg  poison,  thyself  being  old,  to  die,  ween 
over  tlii-  il.^A  bmlj  ?     Thou  weit  not  then  really  thcVather 
of  me,  nor  did  she.  who  says  she  bore  me,  and  is  called  my 
nioflur,  bear  nic ;  but  born  of  slavish  blood  I  was  secretly  put 
undtr  the  breast  of  thy  wife.      Thou  showcdst  when  thou 
earnest  to  the  test,  who  thou  art ;  and  I  deem  that  I  am  not 
tl.y  son.     Or  else  surely  thou  excecdcst  all  in  nothin^mess  of 
soul,  who  being  of  the  age  thou  art,  and  having  come  to  the 
goal  of  life,  neither  hadst  the  will  nor  the  courage  to  die  for 
thy  son  ;  but  sufferedst  this  stranger  lady,  whom  alone  I  might 
justly  have  considered  both  mother  and  father.    And  yet  thou 
mightst  have  run  this  race  for  glory,  hadst  thou  died  for  thy 
son.     13ut  at  any  rate  the  remainder  of  the  time  thou  hadst 
to  live  was  short :  and  I  should  have  lived  and  she  the  rest  of 
our  days,  and  I  should  not,  bereft  of  her,  be  groaning  at  my 
miseries.     And  in  sooth  thou  didst  receive  as  many  things  as 
a  happy  man  should  receive ;  thou  passedst  the  vigor  of  tliine 
age  indeed  in  sovereign  sway,  but  I  was  thy  son  to  succeed 
thee  in  this  palace,  so  that  thou  wert  not  about  to  die  child- 
less and  leave  a  desolate  house  for  others  to  plunder.     Thou 
canst  not  however  say  of  me,  that  I  gave  thee  up  to  die,  dis- 
honoring thine  old  age,  whereas  I  was  particularly  respectful 
toward  thee ;  and  for  this  behavior  both  thou,  and  she  that 
bare  me,  have  made  me  such  return.     Wherefore  you  have  no 
paore  time  to  losers  in  getting  children,  who  will  succor  thee 
in  thine  old  age,  and  deck  thee  wJien  dead,  and  lay  out  thy 
corse ;  for  I  will  not  bury  thee  with  this  mine  hand  ;  for  I  in 
sooth  died,  as  far  as  in  thee  lay;  but  if,  having  met  with 
another  deliverer,  I  view  the  light,  I  say  that  I  am  both  his 
child,  and  the  friendly  comforter  of  his  old  age.    In  vain  then 
do  old  men  pray  to  be  dead,  complaining  of  age,  and  the  long 
time  of  life :  but  if  death  come  near,  not  one  is  willing  to  die° 
and  old  age  is  no  longer  burdensome  to  them.^^ 

»»  I  should  scarcely  have  observed  that  this  is  the  proper  sense  of 
thejmperfect.  had  not  the  former  translator  mistaken  it.     B 

Ct.  Iph.  Taur.  244.  x^pviiSac  it  kqI  Kardpyfiara  om  uv  6ddvoic  dv 

••  An  apparent  allusion  to  the  fable  of  Death  and  the  Old  Man.    B. 


Chor.  Desist,  for  the  present  calamity  is  sufficient ;  and  do 
not,  O  son.  provoke  thy  father's  mind. 

TiiE.  O  son,  whom  dost  thou  presume  thou  art  gibing  with 
tl.y  reproaches,  a  Lydian  or  a  Phrygian  bought  with   thy 
money  ?^'    Knowest  tHou  not  that  I  am  a  Thessalian,  and  born 
from  a  Thessalian  father,  truly  free  ?     Thou  art  too  insolent, 
and  castin*^  the  impetuous  words  of  youth  against  us,  shalt  not 
having  cast  them  thus  depai't.     But  I  begat  thee  the  lord  of 
my  house,  and  brought  thee  up,  but  I  am  not  thy  debtor  to 
."lie  for  thee;  for  I  received  no  paternal  law  like  this,  nor 
Grecian  law,  that  fathers  should  die  for  their  children  ;  for 
for  thyself  thou  wert  born,  whether  unfortunate  or  fortunate, 
but  what  from  us  thou  oughtest  to  have,  thou  hast.     Thou 
rulest  indeed  over  many,  and  I  will  leave  thee  a  large  demesne 
of  lands,  for  these  I  received  from  my  father.     In  what  then 
have  I  injured  thee?     Of  what  do  I  deprive  thee?     Thou 
joyest  to  see  the  light,  and  dost  think  thy  father  does  not 
joy  'i'^^     Surely  I  count  the  time  we  must  spend  beneath  long, 
and  life  is  short,  but  still  sweet.     Tbou  too  didst  shamelessly 
ficrht  off  from  dying,  and  livest,  having  passed  over  thy  des- 
tined fate,  by  slaying  her ;  then  dost  thou  talk  of  my  nothing- 
ness of  soul,  O  most  vile  one,  when  thou  art  surpassed  by  a 
woman  who  died  for  thee,  the  handsome  youth  ?     But  thou 
hast  made  a  clever  discovery,  so  that  thou  mayst  never  die, 
if  thou  wilt  persuade  the  wife  that  is  thine  from  time  to  time 
to  die  for  thee :  and  then  reproachest  thou  thy  friends  who 
are  not  willing  to  do  this,  thyself  being  a  coward  ?     Hold  thy 
peace,  and  consider,  if  thou  lovest  thy  life,  that  all  love  theirs  ; 
but  if  thou  shalt  speak  evil  against  us,  thou  shalt  hear  many 
reproaches  and  not  false  ones. 

CiioR.  Too  many  evil  things  have  been  spoken  both 
now  and   before,   but    cease,   old    man,   from   reviling   thy 

Adm.  Speak,  for  I  have  spoken;  but  if  thou  art  grieved  at 
hearing  the  truth,  thou  shouldst  not  err  against  me. 
PiiE^  But  had  I  died  for  thee,  I  had  erred  more. 

''  Arisloplmnes'  version  of  this  line  is.  u  vai,  riv  av^fzf,  "^ortpa  Aw- 
6bv  n  */»i'>n  Mnpfjn7rrrrn8ai  doKfi^       B.  ,      ,       .•  •    r  *i, 

'•  Turned  bv  Aristophanes  into  an  apology  for  beating  on^s  father. 
Kub.  1415.  KXiiovai  jr<u<5cf,  varipa  &  ov  Khluv  doKcig.  See  Thesmoph. 
194.    B. 


Si> 


AtrFvTfr 


(711— '71(\ 


1i1~-1B^) 


Adm.  Whaf  is  it  the  same  thing  for  a  man  in  his  prime, 
and  for  an  old  man  to  die? 

The.   U'e  ouglit  to  live  with  one  life,  not  with  two. 

Adm.   Mayst  thou  then  live  a  longer  time  than  Jove! 
*PiiE.  Dost  curse  thy  parents,  having  met  with  no  injustice? 

Adm.  7  hikI  if,  for  I  perceived  thou  lovedst  a  long  life. 

Pjie.  But  art  not  thou  bearing  forth  this  corse  instead  of 
thyself? 

Adm.  a  proof  this,  O  most  vile  one,  of  thy  nothingness  of 
soul. 

Phe.  She  died  not  by  us  at  least :  thou  wilt  not  say  this. 

Adm.  Alas !     Oh  that  you  may  ever  come  to  need  my  aid ! 

Phe.  Wed  many  wives,  that  more  may  die. 

Adm.  This  is  a  reproach  to  thyself,  for  thou  wert  not  will- 
ing to  die. 

Phe.   Sweet  is  this  light  of  the  God,  sweet  is  it. 

Adm.  Base  is  thy  spirit  and  not  that  of  men. 

Phe.   Thou  dost  not  laugh  as  carrying  an  aged  corse. 

Adm.  Thou  wilt  surely  however  die  inglorious,  when  thou 
diest. 

Phe.  To  bear  an  evil  report  is  no  matter  to  me  when  dead. 

Adm.  Alas  I  alas  I  how  full  of  shamelessness  is  old  age ! 

Phe.  She  was  not  shameless :  her  you  found  mad. 

Adm.  Begone,  and  suffer  me  to  bury  this  dead. 

Phe.  I  will  depart;  but  you  will  bury  her,  yourself  being 
her  murderer.  But  you  will  render  satisfaction  to  your  wife's 
relatives  yet:  or  surely  Acastus  no  longer  ranks  among  men, 
if  he  shall  not  revenge  the  blood  of  his  sister. 

Adm.  Get  thee  gone,  then,  thou  and  thy  wife;  childless, 
thy  child  yet  living,  as  ye  deserve,  grow  old ;  for  ye  no  more 
come  into  the  same  house  with  me :  and  if  it  were  necessary 
for  me  to  renounce  by  heralds  thy  paternal  hearth,  1  would 
renounce  it.  But  let  us  (for  the  evil  before  us  must  be  borne) 
proceed,  that  we  may  place  the  corse  upon  the  funeral  pyre. 

Chor.  O!  O!  unhappy  because  of  thy  bold  deed.  O  noble, 
and  by  far  most  excellent,  farewell !  may  both  Mercury^'^  that 
dwells  beneath,  and  Pluto,  kindly  receive  thee;  but  if  there 
too  any  di^fmction  is  shown  to  the  good,  partaking  of  this 
maysi  thou  sit  by  the  bride  of  Pluto. 

''  Cf  .tscli  (hooph  Rub  init  nnd  Goiiin,  Moaum.  Libert,  p.  24  ad 
Tab  X  lit.  A 


AtCE^TI?. 


Servant. 


23 


I  have  now  known  many  guests,  and  from  all  parts  of  the 
earth  that  have  come  to  the  house  of  Admetus,  to  whom  I 
have  spread  the  feast,  but  never  yet  did  I  receive  into  this 
house  a  worse  one  than  this  stranger.  Who,  in  the  first  place, 
indeed,  though  he  saw  my  master  in  affliction,  came  in,  and 
prevailed  upon  himself  to  pass  the  gates.  And  then  not  at  all 
in  a  modest  manner  received  he  the  entertainment  that  there 
happened  to  be,  when  he  heard  of  the  calamity:  but  if  we  did 
not  bring  any  thing,  he  hurried  us  to  bring  it.  And  having 
taken  in'his  hands  the  cup  wreathed  with  ivy,*»  he  quaffs  the 
neat  wine  of  the  purple  mother,  until  the  fumes  of  the  liquor 
coming  upon  him  inflamed  him ;  and  he  crowns  his  head  with 
branches  pf  myrtles  howling  discordantly ;  and  there  were  two 
strains  to  hear ;  for  he  was  singing,  not  caring  at  all  for  the 
afflictions  of  Admetus,  but  we  the  domestics,  were  bewailing 
our  mistress,  and  we  showed  not  that  we  were  weeping  to  the 
guest,  for  thus  Admetus  commanded.  And  now  indeed  I  am 
performing  the  offices  of  hospitality  to  the  stranger  in  the 
house,  some  deceitful  thief  and  robber.  But  she  is  gone  from 
the  house,  nor  did  I  follow,  nor  stretched  out  my  hand  in 
lamentation  for  my  mistress,  who  was  a  mother  to  me,  and 
to  all  the  domestics,  for  she  saved  us  from  ten  thousand  ills, 
softening  the  anger  of  her  husband.  Do  I  not  then  justly 
hate  this  stranger,  who  is  come  in  our  miseries  ? 

Hercules,  Servant. 

Her.  Ho  there !  why  dost  thou  look  so  grave  and  thought- 
ful ?  The  servant  ought  not  to  be  of  woeful  countenance  before 
guests,  but  should  receive  them  with  an  affable  mind.  But 
thou,  though  thou  seest  a  companion  of  thy  lord  present,  re- 
ceivest  him  with  a  morose  and  clouded  countenance,  fixing  thy 
attention  on  a  calamity  that  thou  hast  nothing  to  do  with. 
Come  hither,  that  thou  mayst  become  more  wise.  KnoA'Cst 
thou  mortal  affairs,  of  what  nature  they  are  ?  I  think  not ; 
from  whence  should  you  '  but  hear  me.  Death  is  a  debt  that 
all  mortals  must  pay ;  and  there  is  not  of  them  one.  who  knows 
whether  he  shall  live  the  coming  morrow :  for  what  depends 

*•  Theocrit.  i.  27.     Kai  3a6i)  niaavQiov  KtK%vaiuvov  6dci  Kapv,  Tw 
irepi  fitv  x'^^V  fiapeverai  vi(f60i  Kiaaoc      B. 


24 


ALCESTIS. 


[7S6— 821. 


822— 860.J 


ALCESTI& 


25 


on  fortune  is  uncertain  how  it  will  turn  out,  and  is  not  to  be 
learned,  neither  is  it  detected  by  art.  Having  heard  these 
things  then,  and  learned  them  from  mc,  make  thyself  merry, 
drink,  and  think  the  life  allowed  from  day  to  day  thine  own, 
but  the  rest  Fortune's.  And  honor  also  Venus,  the  most 
sweet  of  deities  to  mortals,  for  she  is  a  kind  deity.  But  let  go 
these  other  things,  and  obey  my  words,  if  I  appear  to  speak 
rightly  :  I  think  so  indeed.  "VVilt  thou  not  then  leave  ott'  thy 
excessive  grief,  and  drink  with  me,  crowned  with  garlands, 
havinor  thrown  open  these  gates  ?  And  well  know  I  that  the 
trickling  of  the  cup  falling  down  thy  throat  will  change  thee 
from  thy  present  cloudy  and  pent  state  of  mind.  But  we  who 
arc  mortals  should  think  as  mortals.  Since  to  all  the  morose, 
indeed,  and  to  those  of  sad  countenance,  if  they  take  me  as 
judge  at  least,  life  is  not  truly  life,  but  misery. 

Serv.  I  know  this ;  but  now  we  are  in  circumstances  not 
such  as  are  fit  for  revel  and  mirth. 

Her.  The  lady  that  is  dead  is  a  stranger ;  grieve  not  too 
much,  for  the  lords  of  this  house  live. 

Serv.  What  live  1  knowest  thou  not  the  misery  within  the 
bouse  ? 

Her.  Unless  thy  lord  hath  told  me  any  thing  falsely. 

Serv.  He  is  too,  too  hospitable. 

Her.  Is  it  unmeet  that  I  should  be  well  treated,  because  a 
stranger  is  dead  ? 

Serv.  Surely  however  she  was  very  near. 

Her.  Has  he  forborne  to  tell  me  any  calamity  that  there 

is? 

Serv.  Depart  and  farewell ;  we  have  a  care  for  the  evils  of 
our  lords. 

Her.  This  speech  is  the  beginning  of  no  foreign  loss. 

Serv.  For  I  should  not,  had  it  been  foreign^  have  been 
grieved  at  seeing  thee  reveling. 

Her.  What !  have  I  received  so  great  an  injury  from  mine 
hostt 

Serv.  Thou  earnest  not  in  a  fit  time  for  tlie  liousc  to  receive 
thee,  for  there  is  grief  to  us,  and  thou  secst  that  we  are  shorn, 
and  our  black  garments. 

Her.  But  who  is  it  that  is  deadT  Has  either  any  of  his 
children  died,  or  his  aged  father  ? 

Serv.  The  wife  indeed  of  Admetus  is  dead,  O  stranger. 


Her  What  sayst  thou?  and  yet  did  ye  receive  me? 
Serv.  Yes,  for  he  had  too  much  respect  to  turn  thee  from 

his  house.  i       i    ♦! 

Her.  O  unhappy  man,  what  a  wife  hast  thou  lost ! 

Serv.  We  all  are  lost,  not  she  alone. 

Her.  But  I  did  perceive  it  indeed,  when  I  saw  his  eye 
streamin*^  with  tears,  and  his  shorn  hair,  and  his  counte- 
nance ;  but  he  persuaded  me,  saying,  that  he  was  conduct- 
\x^cr  the  funeral  of  a  stranger  to  the  tomb:  but  spite  of  my  in- 
dignation having  passed  over  these  gates,  I  drank  in  the  house 
of  the  hospitable  man,  while  he  was  in  this  case,  and  rev- 
eled, crowned  as  to  my  head  with  garlands.  But  twas 
thine  to  tell  me  not  to  do  it,  when  such  an  evil  was  "PO"  jne 
house.     Where  is  he  burjing  her*?  whither  going  can  I  find 

'  Serv.  By  the  straight  road  that  leads  to  Larissa,  thou  wiU 
see  the  polished  tomb  beyond  the  suburbs. 

Hercules. 
O  my    much-daring  heart  and  my  soul,  now  show  what 
manner  of  son  the  Tirynthian  Alcraena,  daughter  of  Elec- 
tryon,  bare  thee  to  Jove.     For  I  must  rescue  the  woman 
lately  dead,  Alceslis,  and  place  her  again  in  this  house,  and 
perform  this  service  for  Admetus.     And  going  1  will  lay  wait 
for  the  sable-vested  king  of  the  departed.  Death,  and  I  think 
that  I  shall  find  him  drinking  of  the  libations  near  the  tomb. 
And  if  having  taken  him  by  lying  in  wait,  rushmg  from 
my  ambush,  I  shall  seize  hold  of  hira,  and  nj^ke  a  circle 
Ground  him  with  mine  arms,  there  is  not  who  shall  take  him 
away  panting  as  to  his  sides,  until  he  release  me  the  woman 
But  if  however  I  fail  of  this  capture,  and  he  come  not    o 
the  clottered  mass  of  blood,  I  will  go  a  journey  beneath  to 
ho  sunless  mansions  of  Cora  and  her  king,  and  will  prefer 
my  request ;  and  1  trust  that  I  shall  bring  up  Alcestis.  so  as 
J^V'cc  her  in  tho  liands  of  that  host,  who  received  me  into 
Mstu'e  nor  <lrove  me  away,  although  struck  with  a  heavy 
clamitv,  but  concealed  il.  noble  as  he  was.  having  respect 
unriie      Who  of  tlio  The.^lians  is  more  hospitable  than 
;"  ■     Wlio  tha«    d.cllcth   in  Greeco;     Wh^reforj^  h.  ^haH 
not  snv.  that  ho  did  a  bervice  lo  a  worthless  man.  UimseL'-Ve 
ing  noble 


26 


ALCESTIS. 


L861— 897. 


Admetus,  Chorus. 
Adm.  Alas!  alas!  O  hateful  approach,  and  hateful  pros- 
pect of  this  widowed  house.  Oh  me!  Alas!  alas!  whither 
can  I  go!  where  rest!  what  can  I  say!  and  what  not!  would 
that  I  could  perish!  Surely  my  mother  bcought  me  forth  to 
heavy  fortune.  I  count  the  dead  happy,  them  I  lone  for' 
those  houses  I  desire  to  dwell  in :  for  neither  delight  I  in 
viewing  the  sunbeams,  nor  treading  with  my  foot  upon  the 
eartli;  of  such  a  hostage  has  death  robbed  me,  and  delivered 
up  to  Pluto, 

?A^^'  nKr/ir?x^'^''^"'^^^  S°  ^"*^  *^^  '•^^^^^^^  «f  the  house. 
(Adm.  Oh !  Oh  !) 

Thou  hast  suffered  things  that  demand  groans. 

(Adm.  Alas!  alas!) 
Thou  hast  gone  through  grief,  I  well  know. 

(Adm.  Woe!  Woe!) 
Thou  nothing  aidest  her  that  is  beneath 

(Adm.  Ah  me !  me !) 

^Tn J'^rr  '^^  ^f  ^  T^"''  ^"^^  ^^^^"  ^'^^'^  th^«'  i«  severe. 
ar..Tf  ^*'^",^^«'  ";a<^e  mention  of  that  which  ulcerated*ny 

f^m  f  1      ^f    ,T  ^f  ^^^'^''  ^"  *^  "^^  than  to  lose  his 

w  th  ho7-  1  ^r^^  ''^'  ^  "^^'^^  ^^^  "^^"-^  '-^nd  dwelt 
with  her  in  the  palace.     But  I  judge  happy  those  who  are 

unmarried  and  childless;  for  thei'r.  t  one  only  life,  fo^this  o 
grieve  is  a  moderate  burden:  but  to  behold  the  diseases  of 
children  and  the -bridal  bed  wasted  by  death,  is  not  support- 
able,  when  it  were  in  one's  power  to  be  without  children  and 
unmarried  the  whole  of  life. 

(aX.*  Oh ?0h  0  ^^^  *""  ^^  struggled  with  hath  come. 

But  puttest  thou  no  bound  to  thy  sorrows  « 

(Adm.  Alas !  alas  !) 
Heavy  are  they  to  bear,  but  still 

(Adm.  Woe!  woe!) 
endure,  thou  art  not  the  first  man  that  hast  lost 

(Adm.  Ah  me !  me !) 

ferLT'Ihi  ef  ''^^*™^'^  appearing  afflicts  different  men  in  dif- 

r.Au^'.l^  H'i"^  ^"^^^   ^"<^  ^'•rows  for  our  friends  be- 
ne^^th  the  earth! Why  did  you  hinder  me  from  throwing 


S'.»S— OoO] 


ALCESTIS. 


2T 


mysrclf*'  into  her  hallowed  grave,  and  from  lying  dead  with 
lar,  by  far  the  most  excellent  woman?  And  Pluto  would 
have  retained  instcud  of  one,  two  most  faithful  souls  having 
to"clhcr  passed  over  the  infernal  lake. 

CiioK.  I  had  a  certain  kin.snian,  whose  son  worthy  io  be 
lamented,  an  only  child,  died  in  his  house;  but  nevertheless 
he  bore  his  calamity  with  moderation,  being  bereft  of  child, 
though  now  hastening  to  gray  hairs,  and  advanced  in  life. 

Adm.  O  house,  how  can  I  enter  in?  and  how  dwell  in  thee 
now  my  fortune  has  undergone  this  change  ?  Ah  me !  for 
there  i»  great  difference  between :  then  indeed  with  Pelian 
torches,  and  with  bridal  songs  I  entered  in,  bearing  the  hand 
of  my  dear  wife,  and  there  followed  a  loud-shouting  revelry 
hailing  happy  both  her  that  is  dead  and  me,  inasmuch  as  being 
noble,  and  born  of  illustrious  parents  both,  wc  were  united  to- 
gether; but  now  the  groan  instead  of  hymeneals,  and  black 
array  instead  of  white  robes,  usher  me  in  to  my  deserted  couch. 
Chor.  This  grief  came  quick  on  happy  fortune  to  thee  un- 
schooled in  evil :  but  thou  hast  saved  thy  life.  Thy  wife  is 
dead,  she  left  her  love  behind :  what  new  thing  this?  Death 
has  ere  this  destroyed  many  wives. 

Adm.  My  friends,  I  deem  the  fortune  of  my  wife  more 
happy  than  mine  own,  even  although  these  things  appear  not 
so.  For  her  indeed  no  grief  shall  ever  touch,  and  she  hath 
with  glory  ceased  from  many  toils.  But  I,  who  ought  not  to 
have  lived,  though  I  have  scaped  destiny,  shall  pass  a  bitter 
life ;  1  but  now  perceive.  For  how  can  I  bear  the  entering 
into  this  house  ?  Whom  speaking  to,  or  by  whom  addressed,** 
can  I  have  joy  in  entering?  Whither  shall  I  turn  me?  For 
the  solitude  within  will  drive  me  forth,  when  I  see  the  place 
where  my  wife  used  to  lie,  empty,  and  the  seat  whereon  she 
ii>cd  to  sit,  and  the  floor  throughout  the  house  all  dirty,  and 
when  my  children  falling  about  my  knees  weep  their  mother, 
and  they  lament  their  mistress,  thinking  what  a  lady  they  have 
lost  from  out  of  the  house.     Such  things  within  the  house ; 

♦'  Hamlet,  r.  l 

Hold  oflF  the  earth  awhile. 

Till  I  hare  caught  her  once  more  in  mine  arms: 

[leaps  into  the  grave.] 
Now  pile  your  dust  upon  the  quick  and  dead      B. 


28 


ALCESTIS. 


[961— luua 


bu  abroad  Iho  nuptials  of  the  Thessalians  and  the  assemblies 
fuJl  of  women  w,II  tortnrc  me:  for  I  shall  not  be  ableriook 
on  the  companions  of  my  wife.  But  whoever  is  miue  en  mv 
.  will  say  thus  of  me :  "  See  that  man,  who  basely  Ive.wZ 
dared  not  to  die  but  giving  in  his  stkd  her,  whom  ho  m'" 
ned  escaped  Hades,  (and  then  does  he  seem  to  be  a  m^ 
and  hates  his  parents,  himself  not  willing  to  d°e  "— s"i 
report  shall  I  have  i„  addition  to  my  wo°s.  ,vhy  ^ii^^t 
the  more  honorable  course  for  me  to  live,  my  fr  end  ha  in" 
an  evd  character  and  an  evil  fortune »  '  " 

CiiOR.  I  too  have  both  been  borne  aloft  through  «on"  and 
t™°p„3,;;'',T''  "j^i-""".  '"^""™'»  ■"•>™  found  nmhtng 

medicines,  which  Ph«bus7a«  t\e  T  ^fl  scT.'S,' dil! 
pensing.   them  to  wretched  mortals.     Hut  neither  "o  "he  al- 

proach,  she  hears  not  victims.  Do  not,  O  revered  one  con?e 
on  me  more  severe,  than  hitherto  in  my  ife.  For  Jove  who- 
ever he  have  assented  to,  with  thee  brings  this  to  pass  Thou 
too  perforce  subduest  the  iron  among  the  Chalybi  nor  ha^ 
thy  rugged  spirit  any  remorse.  v^naiym ,  nor  has 

ine  sons  ot  the  Gods  by  stealth  begotten  perish  in  death 

wS  d  :d"'"B:t'':lr  ^•■; --."'"•  -.  ana^'dear  even'tt 
Tf  an  won;e„  K  !"  ."^'i^' J"'"  to  %  bed'^  the  noblest  wife 
ot  all  women,  ^or  let  the  tomb  of  thy  wife  be  accounted 
a^  the  mound  over  the  dead  that  perish,  but  let  it  be  honored 
equally  with  tho  Gods,  a  thing  for  tracers  to  adore  :°"mtd 

^'  yp^^i<i  yipv^,  a  paraphrasis  for  'OpdnV 

wayJlT/h  groirrenTfilno"'  "l  «°-ts  were  built  near  tl.c  hi.h 

lib.  i.  sub  fi„.  Eurin  HecuVl-s'^  T?^'''  ^^^V  ^*  ''"'"'*  °"  ^'''''^'''^ 
or  milestones,  a,  mV/cocr  vi  lo  .n^  ''  '"■%°^''"  "'^^  •'^'  la...Iiuarks 
Florid,  i.  p.  340,  ed  En,    V  "  oratories  or  cLap.ls,  Apul. 


1000—1039.] 


ALCESTIS. 


29 


some  one,  going  out  of  his  direct  road,  shall  say  thus:  «  She 
in  olden  lime  died  for  her  husband,  but  now  she  is  a  blest 
divinity:  Hail,  O  adored  one,  and  be  propitious!"  Such 
words  will  be  addressed  to  her.— And  lol  here  comes,  as  it 
seems,  the  son  of  Alcmena  to  thy  house,  Admctus. 

Hercules,  Adjietus,  Chokus. 

Hek.  One  should  speak  freely  to  a  friend,  Admetus,  and 
not  in  silence  keep  within  our  bosoms  what  we  blame,     ^ow 
I  thou<-ht  myself  worthy  as  a  friend  to  stand  near  thy  calami- 
ties   and  to  search  them  out;*'  but  thou  didst  not  tell  me 
that  it  was  thy  wife's  corse  that  demanded  thy  attention ;  but 
didst  receive  mc  in  thy  house,  as  though  occupied  in  grief  for 
one  not  thine.     And  I  crowned  my  head  and  poured  out  to 
the  Gods  libations  in  thy  house  which  had  suffered  this  ca- 
lamity.    And  I  do  blame  thee,  I  blame  thee,  having  met  with 
this  treatment !  not  that  I  wish  to  grieve  thee  in  thy  miseries. 
But  wherefore  I  am  come,  having  turned  back  again,  I  will  tell 
thee.     Keccive  and  take  care  of  this  woman  for  me,  until  I 
come  hither  driving   the  Thracian   marcs,  having  slam  the 
kin'T  of  the  Bistonians.     But  if  I  meet  with  what  I  pray  I 
may  not  meet  with,  (for  may  I  return !)  I  give  thee  her  as  an 
attendant  of  thy  palace.     But  with  much  toil  came  she  into 
my  hands ;  for  I  find  some  who  had  proposed  a  public  con- 
test for  wrestlers,  worthy  of  my  labors,  from  whence  I  bear 
off  her,  having  received  her  as  the  prize  of  my  victory ;  for 
those  who  conquered  in  the  lighter  exercises  had  to  receive 
horses,  but  those  again  who  conquered  in  the  greater,  the  box- 
in^r  and  the  wrestling,  cattle,  and  a  woman  was  added  to  these ; 
bu°t  in  me,  who  happened  to  be  there,  it  had  been  base  to  neg- 
lect this  glorious  gain.     But,  as  I  said,  tho  woman  ought  to 
be  a  care  to  you,  for  I  am  come  not  having  obtained  her  by 
stealth,  but  with  labor ;  but  at  some  time  or  other  thou  too 
wilt  perhaps  commend  me  for  it. 

Adm.  By  no  means  slighting  thee,  nor  considering  thee 
among  mine  enemies,  did  I  conceal  from  thee  the  unhappy 
fate  ol"  my  wife :  but  this  had  been  a  grief  added  to  grief,  it 
*'  Tins  appears  the  most  obvious  sense,  as  connected  with  wlmt  fol- 
lows All  the  intorpretors.  however,  translate  it.  /  thought  myself 
vorti.i/,  Haudi»g.  as  I  dtJ,  near  thy  calamxuea,  {}.  c  uear  thee  in  thy  ca- 
lamities.) to  be  profJ  thy  friend. 

Vol.  I— I- 


30 


ALCE5TIS. 


[1040— 108a 


thou  hadst  gone  to  the  house  of  another  host :  but  it  was  suf- 
ficient for  me  to  weep  my  own  calamity.     But  the  woman  if 
It  IS  in  any  way  possible,  I  beseech  thee,  O  king,  bid  some 
one  ol  the  Thessaiians,  who  has  not  suffered  what  1  have,  lo 
take  care  of  (but  thou  hast  many  friends  among  tlie  Thcraeaus-) 
lest  thou  remind  me  of  my  mislbrluncs.     I  can  not,  beholding 
her  in  the  house,  refrain  from  weeping;  add  not  a  sickness 
to  nic  already  sick;   for  I  am  enough  weighed  down  with 
misery.     Where  besides  in  the  Iiouse  can  a  youthful  woman 
be  maintained?  for  she  is  youthful,  as  she  evinces  by  her  r-arb 
and  her  attire;  shall  she  then  live  in  the  men's  apartment? 
And  how  will  she  be  undefded,  living  among  young  men  ? 
A  man  in  his  vigor,  Hercules,  it  is  no  easy  thing  to  restrain  ; 
but  I  have  a  care  for  thee.    Or  can  I  maintain  her,  having  made 
her  enter  the  chamber  of  her  that  is  dead  ?     And  how  can  I 
introduce  her  into  her  bed  ?     I  fear  a  double  accusation,  both 
irom  the  citizens,  lest  any  should  convict  me  of  having  be- 
trayed my  benefactress,  and  lying  in  the  bed  of  another°girl ; 
and  I  ought  to  have  much  regard  toward  the  dead  (and  she 
deserves  my  respect).     But  thou,  O  lady,  whoever  thou  art, 
know  that  thou  ha.-t  the  same  size  of  per*on  with  Alcestis,  and 
art  like  her  in  figure.     Ah  me  I  take  by  the  Gods  this  woman 
irom  mine  eyes,  lest  you  destroy  rac  already  d.istroyed.     For  I 
think,  when  1  look  upon  her,  that  I  behold  my  wife;  and  it 
agitates  my  heart,  and  from  mine  eyes  the  streams  break  forth  ; 
O  unhappy  I,  how  lately  did  I  begin  to  taste  this  bitter  trrief ! 
CnoR.  I  can  not  indeed  speak  well  of  thy  fortune ;  butTt  be- 
hooves thee,  whatever  thou  art,  to  bear  with  firmness  the  dis- 
pensation of  the  Gods. 

IIci;.  Oh  would  that  I  had  such  power  as  to  brin^'  thy  wife 
to  the  light  from  the  infernal  mansions,  and  to  do  this  service 
lor  thee  I 

Adm.  Well  know  I  that  thou  hast  the  will:  but  how  can 
this  be  .  It  is  not  possible  for  the  dead  to  come  into  the 
light. 

dec^ntT  ^^  "°*'  '  ^^^^'  ^^  heyond  all  bound,  but  bear  it 
Adm.  'Tis  easier  to  exhort,  than  suffering  to  endure. 
ilLR.  But  what  advantage   can  you  gain  if  vou  wish  to 

groan  forever? 

Apm.  X  know  that  too  i-iysclf ;  but  a  certain  love  impels  mc. 


1081—1106] 


ALCESTIS. 


31 


IIer.  For  to  love  one  that  is  dead  draws  the  tear. 

Adm.  She  hath  destroyed  me,  and  yet  more  than  my  words 

express. 

Hku.  Thou  hast  lost  an  excellent  wife;  who  will  deny  it? 
Adm.  Ai/,  so  that  I  am  no  longer  delighted  with  life. 
Her.  Time  will  soften  the  evil,  but  now  it  is  yet  in  its 

vigor"*  on  thee. 

Adm.  Time  thou  mayst  say,  if  to  die  be  time. 

Her.  a  wife  will  bid  it  cease,  and  the  desire  of  a  new 
marriage. 

Adm.  Hold  thy  peace — What  saidst  thou  ?  I  could  not 
have  supposed  it. 

Ulr.  But  why  ?  what,  wilt  not  marry,  but  pass  a  widowed 

life  alone? 

Adm.  There  is  no  woman  that  shall  lie  with  me. 

Her.   Dost  thou  think  that  thou  art  in  aught  benefiting  her 

that  is  dead  1  ,       i 

Adm.  Her,  wherever  she  is,  I  am  bound  to  honor. 
Her.   1  praise  you  indeed,  I  praise  you  ;  but  you  incur  the 

charge  of  folly. 

AuM.  Praise  me,  or  praise  vie  not;  for  you  shall  never  caU 

me  bridegroom. 

Her.  I  do  praise  thee,  because  thou  art  a  faithful  friend  to 

thy  wife.  ,  ,        ,     ,     •        .  i 

Adm.  May  I  die,  when  I  forsake  her,  although  she  is  not! 
Her.  Keccive  then  this  noble  woman  into  thine  house. 
VuM.  Do  not,  I  beseech  thee  by  thy  father  Jove. 
Her.  And  yet  you  will  be  acting  wrong,  if  you  do  not 

'  Adm.  Yes,  and  if  I  do  it,  I  shall  have  my  heart  gnawed 

with  sorrow.  .  j 

Her.  Be  prevailed  upon :  perhaps  this  favor  may  be  proved 

a  duty.  ,  1        /r  r 

Adm.  Ah  I  would  that  you  had  never  borne   her  off  trom 

the  contest ! 

Her.  Yet  with  me  conquering  thou  rt  victorious  too- 

Adm.  Thou  ha?t  well  spoken ;  but  let  the  woman  depart. 

Her.  She  .hall  depart,  if  it  is  needful;  but  first  see  wheth- 
er it  bo  needful. 

"  la  ll.e  ^ainc  manner  v.J^  is  used  in  Orcbtes,  087,  orau  )ap  ii3^ 


32 


ALCESTIS. 


[U06-:i3O. 


Ad3i.  It  is  needful,  if  thou  at  least  dost  not  mean  to  make 
xne  angry. 

Hek.  I  too  have  this  desire,  for  I  know  somewhat. 

ApM.  Conquer  then.  Thou  dost  not  however  do  thin^^s 
pleasing  to  nie. 

Hek.  But  some  time  or  other  thou  wilt  praise  me ;  only  be 
persuaded. 

Adm.  Lead  her  in,  if  I  must  receive  her  in  my  house. 
Her.  I  will  not  deliver  up  the  woman  into  the  charge  of 
the  servants. 

Adm.  But  do  thou  thyself  lead  her  into  the  house  if  it 
seems  /it. 

Her.  I  then  will  give  her  into  thine  hands. 

Adm.  I  will  not  touch  her ;  but  she  is  at  liberty  to  enter 
the  house. 

Her.   I  trust  her  to  thy  right  hand  alone. 
Adm.  O  king,  thou  compellcst  me  to  do  this  against  my 
win. 

Her.  Dare  to  stretch  out  thy  hand  and  touch  the  stranger. 

Adm.  And  in  truth  I  stretch  it  out,  as  I  would  to  the  Gor- 
gon with  her  severed  head.*^ 

Hek.  Have  you  her  ? 
•  Adm.  I  have. 

Her.  Then  keep  her  fast;  and  some  time  or  other  thou 
wilt  say  that  the  son  of  Jove  is  a  generous  guest.  But  look 
on  her,  whether  she  seems  aught  to  rcseanble  thy  wife ;  and 
being  blest  leave  off  from  thy  grief 

Adm.  O  Gods,  what  shall  I  say?  An  unexpected  wonder 
this !  Do  I  truly  see  here  my  wife,  or  does  the  mocking  joy 
of  the  Deity  strike  me  from  my  senses  ? 

Her.  It  is  not  so;  but  thou  beholdest  here  thy  wife. 

Adyx.  Yet  sec,  whether  this  be  not  a  phantom  from  the 
realms  beneath. 

Her.  Thou  hast  not  made  thine  host  an  invoker  of 
spirits. 

Adm.   But  do  I  behold  my  wife,  whom  I  buried  ? 
Her.  Be  well  assured  thou  dost;  but  I  wonder  not  at  thy 
disbelief  of  thy  fortune. 

*•  i.  e.  the  severed  head  of  the  Gorgon.  Valckenaer  observes,  ll.at 
this  is  an  expression  meamiig /aci«  avcrsa,  and  compares  1.  465  of  the 
PhceawMe,  * 


11. n— 1153] 


ALCESTIS. 


33 


Adm.  May  I  touch  her,  may  I  speak  to  her  as  my  living 

"'her.  Speak  to  her;  for  thou  hast  all  t^^^t  thou  d^sirest. 

Adm   O  face  and  person  of  my  dearest  wife,  ha%e  1  thee 
l.evon  *n.y  hopes,  wllen  I  thought  never  to  see  tb^e jnore? 

Her.  Thou  hit:  but  take  care  there  be  no  envy  of  the 

'^  Adm   0  noble  son  of  the  most  powerful  Jove,  mayst  thou 

from  beneath  into  this  light?  •  „  „f  .i,„«  iv?. 

Her.  Having  fought  a  battle  ^-ith  the  prince  of  those  be 

"1'dm.  A\T.c.e  dost  thou  say  thou  didst  have  this  conflict 

"''SER.'At  the  tomb  itself,  having  seized  him  from  ambush 

^'ITZ  ButtV,  1  P-y,  does  this  woman  stand  here  speech- 

''lL  It  is  not  yet  allowed  thee  to  hear  her  address  thee, 

^^^LX'^^s  ^r "  t..c  imperial  fon  of 

•'^"Aml."stay  with  us,  and  be  a  companion  of  our  hearth^ 
Hri..  This  shall  be  some  time  hence,  but  now  I  must 

"Tdm.  But  mayst  thou  be  prosperous,  and  return  on  thy 

"  Start  not:  her  actions  shall  be  ]•<>'>'•  °''      . 
Yon  hear,  my  spell  is  lawful:  Jo  not  shun  her. 
Until  vou  sec  her  die  again ;  for  tl'cn 
You  till  her  double;  ^ny,  r«ff '  y""' i  ki'aee 
When  she  was  voung  you  woo'd  her;  now,  m  age, 

Is  she  beooine  the  suitor*  ,  _ 

TVin.or  s  Talc.  v.  3     Comp..ro  also  M-h  Ado  about Jo^^^^^^^^^^ 

glndio  totondisset  Alcostid.s  cnpillo.,  cam  dns  mambuB  sa^^a^^^^.^  .^. 

?at.  Quod  diserte  imi^a.  appel  at  "^^^/'J'^' '  Admeto  ejus  consue- 
tiir  aliqua  coremonia  de-<ecranda  erat,  antequam  Aum         j 
tudine  et  colloquio  fiui  liccret.     Ue.kth. 


34 


ALCESTIS. 


[1164—1163. 


journey  back.  But  to  the  citizens,  and  to  all  the  tetrarchy 
I  issue  my  commands,  that  they  institute  dances  in  honor  of 
these  happy  events,  and  make  the  altars  odorous  with  their 
sacrifices  of  oxen  that  accompany  their  vows.  For  now  are 
we  placed  in  a  better  state  of  life  than  the  former  one  •  for  I 
will  not  deny  that  I  am  happy. 

Chor.  Many  are  the  shapes  of  the  things  the  deities  direct 
aiid  many  things  the  Gods  perform  contrary  to  our  expecta- 
tions. And  those  things  which  we  looked  for  are  not  accom- 
plished; but  the  God  hath  brought  to  pass  things  not  looked 
for.    buch  hath  been  the  event  of  this  affair. 


ELECTRA. 


'!  i 


PERSONS     REPRESENTED. 

PEASANT. 
ELECTRA. 
ORESTES. 

PYLADES  (A  DUMB  PERSONAGE). 

CHORUS. 
CLYT^MNESTRA. 

OLD  MAN. 

MESSENGER. 

CASTOR  AND  POLLUX. 


35 


ELECTBA.' 


i  t 


THE  ARGUMENT. 


The  return  of  Orestes  from  exile,  and  his  revenge  upon  Clylaemnes'ja 
and  --Egisthus  for  the  murder  of  Agamemnon.  The  subject  is  the  same 
as  that  of  the  "  Choephorae  "  of  Aschylus,  and  the  "  Electra"  of  Sophu- 
cles»  'but  is  handled  with  much  less  dramatic  skill,  while  the  development 
is  tedious  and  inartistic. 


36 


Peasant. 

r  ♦!,«  ion(1  2  randl  ye  streams  of  Inachus, 
O  ANCIENT  ^l^lf^^^^'^^^^^^  conducting  the  war, 

whence  once  on  a  time  king  ^g  ^^^  ^^^^^„ 

in  a  thousand  ships  sailed  *«  V^^^^n  land,  and  taken  the 
slain  Priam,  the  ruler  over  the  Trojan  mna, 

renowned  city  of  1>^;^«7^'  l^y/^^anrsp^^^^^  of  the  bar- 
and  in  the  lofty  temples  placed  ^^^y  "^^"J^P^ .  ^^^  at  home 

barians;  and  there  ^^^^^^^^^^P^f Ts  wife  Clyt^m- 
he  perishes  by  ^l^-'^^^'^f'll.l" 
nestra,  and  by  the  hand  f  f£^^^^^  of  Tantalum  is 

he  indeed,  having  left  the  ^"^J^f^J^^^^^^  ^^^;^„  his  wife, 
i>«*  ;FfrUthii8  reit'ns  over  tne  lana,  iiavmj,  *» «»         » 
no  more ;  but  ^gistnus  rej„»s  ^  .    j^j  dwell- 

the  daughter  of  Tynar^s^BuUh^y^^^^^^^  ^^^  ^^^^,^ 

wCom "of  ElS^ra  rtlform-  tte  old  guardian  of  his  fa.her 
blossom  ot  Ji^iecira,  lue  lu       ^  ^        .  j^uout  to  pensh 

by  the  hand  of  ff 'f '"  V"^,f  ^„^  the  latter  [Electra]  re- 
r„"edt  -If  rof^S  ;^  H.  .  soon  a,  t.  h— g 

Zt^o^^:  rp-t  hX-^ff^ot^  -^united  her 

.  I  en  pTomi«  ft.  student  but  UlU.  »>ti,f.cUon  *te'crpIrUon  of 

will  be  found  in  Schlegel's  ninth  lecture. 

*  yfic  is  redundant.     See  Matthi^.    ^        ,'^uv  iv  rn  yn,  and  lirt/*- 
»  A  mixture  of  the  expressions  tdut^t,  wart  rpt^«v  tv  rr,  yn, 


38 


ELECTRA. 


25^^) 


to  any  bridegroom.  But  since  this  matter  also  w««  r«  i  • 
with  much  dread,  lest  she  should  priviW^a?  Iw't/r^^'^ 
noble  man,  when  he  wished  to  slay  he/  h^ ^^t  .u  ^^ 
cruel-minded.  jet  saved  her  from  the tid  of  Sh'  *^'S?^ 
m  regard  to  her  husband's  death  shp  W  «  -f  S^sthus.  For 
feared  that  by  the  death  of  hTr.h'M  t  Pf^tence;*  but  she 
Upon  this,  tlferiris^us  dev  s^^^^^ 

mentioned  a  sum  of  g'old  forMm  who  2tll  sZ  Or^r.  wh^ 
"^^deed  was  awaj  from  the  land  in  exile  •  but^o  m?  ^^  ^  "" 
Electra  to  have  as  a  wife,  Tbeinor  hnZ^fiU        ?       f  ^®  ^^^ 

on  .his,cco„„,  indeed!^ L^^^fllTet^ST^^^^^ 
ble  at  least  in  race,  but  vet  nonr !«  »«»».?,'     '  ^  **"  °°- 

descent  is  lost ;)  tLr^WniTer  ?«  »  ^  Vr™  "^^"'^  »  """^ 
have  little  fear      ForTf «  £„  ^"'°^'*  ?^"»"'  ••«  "ig!" 

now  sleeps,  and  justice  would  ttli^  Agamemnon,  that 
.has.  B^ut  never'dTd  this  Tan  (vtnus'Is  T^'T"  ,f f!^' 
honourherinhUbed,b„t  she  is  stHl  a  vffin  "C  V"' 
ashamed  at  havin?  received  thp  MiT  e  ^  ^°^  ^  "■" 
to  do  her  an  insuft,  n^befng  bVbi^fh  LXTrT'l'^^'y- 
r  Wail  the  wretched  Orcste?,  wVoTs'lmTnaV^  S;„  m"e' 

&rsS%^u?;\t:^s!rtt?tr^^^^^^^^^^ 

Cn\trhim"SottharhT^  ^■■'^'"  ^^  "Vhi^  itu"?,; 

Jn-Tt^stlLftf^T-a^n^^^^^^ 

=tr';^^iti:rordst^^^^^^ 

may  utter  lamentations  to  the  mf-htv  ether  forf  f  .•  ''  ^^ 
the  all-destructive  daughter  of  Tyodarus  mv^^  ^  1°"" 
cast  me  out  of  her  housf,  doing  a  faCr  to  he7huTba„d -•  and 

and  m^^Tv  °"'«".'""«»  *»  ^S"thu».  she  accounts  0;cste 
and  me  M  things  unimportant  in  her  house 

l-EA.  But  why,  O  hapless  one,  dost  thou  hbonr  »!,„=  f 
my  sake,  submitting  to  toils,  when  thou  before  wlst^I 
brought  up  nor  ceasest  this,  when  I  entreatyou' 

il^LEC.  1  deem  thee  a  friend  eoual  tn  iht>.  P^-    *r     • 
ills  thou  hast  not  behaved  insoS^.*"  B^tlnra'^J^^  ZJ 
*  Til.  theitcrificeoflphijeiaa. 


59—111. 


ELECTRA 


ftO 


fortune  for  mortals  to  find  a  physician  in  «"  7J>^»^,';^';7^  » 
T  „M«in  thee      It  behoves  me  then,  even  unbidden,  lightening 
fhv  t^iT  oiLe  utmost  of  my  power,  that  thou  mayest  more 
^•1    iL«r  iL  to  oartake  in  thy  labours.    And  thou  hast  work 
rKtlou^iCmatters 'within  doors  it  behoves  me  ^ 
3  r^dy.     For  it  is  sweet  for  a  labourer  entering  from 
^l,.   to  find  things  within  [his  house]  anght. 
"pbT  -If  indeed  "iLms  fit  I  thee,  go.  for  the  stream,  are 
noffar-fL  this  house.     But  I  at  dawn  o  day  wil  dri,    m, 
steers  into  the  com-bnds,  and  sow  the  fields.     For  no  s  otn 
?ul  maMiaving  the  Gods  continually  in  his  mouth.  wiU  be 

^'''sr.rpyiidttAht^^^^^^^^ 

faiK^d/andgiesttome^and'hou^^^^^^^^^^^ 
hast  respected  me  0«'if>.  ^;"^8  ^„  Mt^my  ""-afandoned 
terribly  at  the  hands  °^ .■^^'^^'^l^^^°;^Z^^  Lm  the  oracles 
7to^V^^  I?g!;:thr^"holVnrorbeing  conscious  in 
"order  to  Sn^h  the  laughter  of  my  father  by  slaughter     Bu 

b^eaiUf^^K^-t^^^^^^ 
Uthebl«^ofa.ains,«ep,-^^^^^^^ 

rvrroorhu^V^ri'mr-^^^^^^^ 
jr  ^:^rhera^hr  a^y^L  y  t.  ^.ch  «cog 

Ue  me  -^jle   -king  my  »■-./«  t^^^^^^^^^ 

'"def  that  I  mfy  conveC  wtth  her,  and,  obtaining  her  for  an 

•l^t  n  tKauXr,  may  learn  clearly  the  matters  within 

rtousr  •Nottrefi.^L  morn  is  raisj^g  her  shinuig 

face,  we  will   turn   our  footsteps  out  of  this   "•««•"' 

'^Z^.  ploughman  or  some  domestic  -m-jm  "Ppe. 

rhirpit"' B"u.:!cfri  rs^met^va:'  sw  with 

this  place,     dui     v^iui  x  c>^         „^.^^\ i^t  us  sit  down,  and 

shorn  hair,  bearing  a  burden  of  ^»*^'>^^r  "f„  "._,pn; '  nee 
[earn  from  this  female  slave,  if  we  can  ^^^^^^^^^^  f '"S^ 
iTto  the  matters  for  which,  O  Pylades,  we  are  come  to  this  land. 

.  I  have  taken  Woodhull's  t-n.lation  in  prefere^^^^^^^ 
tedious  notM  of  MatthiK  and  Seidler,  which  the  •tudem  wui  u 
dorfs  collection* 


40 


*:lectra. 


112-167 


16S-218 


ELECTRA. 


4i 


Elec.  Hasten  on  the  course  of  m  v  foot,«  0  hour .  0  eo  thou 
on.  go  on,  .veeping.     Alas!  for  mc,  for  me.     I  ;as  bom  o 
Agamemnon,  and  Clyt^mnestra.  the  hateful  daughter  of  Tvn 
darus  gave  me  b.rth,  and  the  citizens  call  unhappy  me  Electra 
Alas     alas  !  for  my  hapless  toils  and  hateful  lii^     OflZl' 

li  ^''^V""^"!:^  ^''  ^>'"S  in  Hades,  murdered  by  thy  wife' 
and  by  ^g.«thus,  O  Agamemnon.      Come!  raise  tire  same 

ourTe  of'"'  '7' '  n^'.'  '^^'«^^  '^^'-y  ^-^«-     Ha      on  t" 
course  of  my  foot,  O  hour;   O  go  thoi  on,  go  on,  weeping 

ho^JZ  7:^'"'  ""''     ^'^^^^^  '^'y*'  ^h«*  J^ouse,  6  Lhappy 

Lr    amid'tdd^V^r'  ''''"^  ^'^^  ^''  ''^'^^  ^"  ^^^  '^^^' 
Ders  amid  saddest  calamities  resulting  from  her  sire?     O 

hateful'h'!?  n'  ^/"  ^^^"g^r  to  thy  father  of  blood  most 

Jiatclul,  hav  ing  neared  thy  wandering  foot  to  Argos      Let  me 

u^7er  Zmr  ""'''  ^^'^"^  ''  ^^"^'  ^-^'  thatTmay  bud"; 
for  mi  ^;?  r"?'"^'  *°  ™^  ^•'•^'  ^  «°""<li"g  song  of  Hades, 
for  Hades.  O  father,  to  thee  beneath  the  earth  I  utter  la 
mentations,  which  ever  day  by  day*  I  ply,  gashing  my Tov«l 
neck  with  my  nails,  and  striking  my  ha^nd^upon^^y  shorn 
head  on  account  of  thy  death.     Wo^!  woe!  tear  The  head 

detr  s  yrwh""f  ^  ^"^".'^  ^'^  "^^^  «*--  cans  u^^^^^^^^^^ 
dearest  sire,  who  has  perished  in  the  crafty  meshes  of  a  net 

t^thv  Zr'^'^'i'  "^^.^IP^^^^  «-e,  having  been  washed  as 

^ll      ^  *u    t'.^*"'"  "i^'  ^^^  *^«  b»«er  cutting  by  an  axe   O 
s^re,  and  the  bitter  plot  on  thy  return  from  Troy^    Not  with 

mldTtb  V*l'^  ^'^'i?"?  ^'^  '^y  ^^^«  ^--^>ve  thee ;  but  hadng 

ZaU^     !l"  '"^^^^  ^S'^*^"^  ^"^  '^^  two-edged  sword^ 
she  obtained  her  cunning  paramour.  ^ 

Chorus.  O  Electra,  daughter  of  Agamemnon,  I  have  come 

.nvn.^^iT'"^'^  "  ^"""**  ^'^**  «"  accusatiTe  in  Iph.  Taur.  1115  anc  Suidw 
pvos  the  Mme  ronslruct.on.  but  u.lh  reference  to  ecclesiastical  wnte« 

U.  JE.ch.  Choeph.  24  s^q.  •  Undmtand  <ri  after  et>,v«. 


to  thy  ruHt.r  home.  A  certain  m.lkdr.nkmg  Mycen.an  hnd- 
In  treading  the  mountain  has  come.  ha«  come  .  and  he  bnngs 
^ord  that  the  Anjiv  es  are  proclauu.ng  the  thud  day  o»  the  least, 
and  all  the  virgins  are  about  to  make  procession  to  Juna 

Elec  Not  for  splendid  doings.  0  friends,  nor  for  golden 
necklaces,  am  wretc  bed  I  elate  m  mind,  nor  forming  dances 
toge.he^^  Ai^ive  nymphs  .hall  I  beat  my  foot  whirled 

round      With  tears  I  dance,  and  tears  are  the  daily  care  for 
wretched  me      Look  at  my  matted  locks,  and  these  rags  of  my 
carments,'"  whether  they  become  the  royal  daughter  of  Aga 
memnon,  and  Troy,  which  remembers  once  being  taken  by  my 

'''cuo  Great  is  the  Goddess."  but  come,  and  from  me  re- 
ceive'^ nchly-woven  robes  to  wear,  and  golden  additions  ot 
ornament  for\hy  beauty  Dost  thou  think,  tbnt,  not  honour- 
,na  the  Gods,  thou  wilt  oven  ome  thine  enemies  by  hy  tears 
Not  with  groans  but  with  prayers,  v^orsl.lppmg  the  Gods, 
wilt  thou  obtain  a  happy  day,  O  daughter 

Elec  No  one  of  the  Gods  hears  the  voice  of  [ty] 
wretched,  nor  the  sacrifices  offered  of  old"  by  my  sire  A.ns 
both  for  the  dead,  and  for  the  l.Mng  wanderer  who  I  ween, 
dwells  in  .ome  other  land,  wandering  wretched  o  the  slave 
hearth,'^  being  sprung  from  a  renowned  sire  But  I  m)  self  m 
a  poverty-stricken  abode  am  dwelling,  pinmg  away  at  heart, 
a  Litive  from  my  ancestral  halN.  dwelling '-  on  the  moun- 
ta,n  rocks  ^   And  my  mother  dwells  wedded  in  bloody  nup- 

tials  to  another.  .,     ui      ^  ^r ««««  ill« 

Clio    Helen,  thy  mother's  sister,  has  the  blame  of  many  ills 

upon  the  Greeks  and  thine  house  „,„..^„, 

Elec    Alas '    O  ^oinen.  I  cea^^e  from  my  lamentation* 
Some  strangers  having  «  station  close  by 'M he  house  n.e  up 
from  their  ambush.     Let  us  escape  with  fligUt  of  foot  from 

'•  Cf   1 0aff;iar«r  Xori?»{     >Esfli   Choeph    34 

"  ,  P  JiiMo     This  w  a  coniipon  lormula     bee  Comin  on  Acts  xix 

»:  x<"»'»«^»'  da  mutuo.  xPfl^a*  mufuo  arnpe      bi IDLER. 
"  (M>Mn^  the  douhle  c<>n«.tTU(  titn  of  icXrny  . 

"  thr  npiMnnt  custom  x^.th  i^andrrrr*.  ^ho  P^'^'^^^'y  P»;;„7'' J!' 
UM^s  nu  ..Mis.  as  an  eqoivaltnt  for  ihnr  tftrporary  suwpori  and  orotic 

tinn      Ct  >J'  "**  '^  .,  n  nrf 

H  Tbit  K«ms  the  be*t  ^ay  of  rtnd.  ring  f?»ano. fi  m  this  pasMj^. 


'lii 


42 


ELECTRA. 


219-245. 


the  evil-doing  men,  jou  indeed  by  the  road-way,  but  I  into 
the  liouse. 

Or.  Remain,  O  wretched  one ;  fear  not  my  hand 
EiKC.  O  Phoebus  Apollo !   I  fall  on  thy  knees  that  I  may 
not  die.  •' 

Or.  I  would  fain  slay  others  more  hateful  than  thou. 
J.LKC.  Away  !  touch  not  what  thou  shouldst  not  touch 
Or.   There  is  not  one  whom  I  could  more  rightly  touch 

I     v.^r*  ^"r?  ^^^'•^^o''«»  sword  in  hand,  dost  thou  lay  in  am- 
bush for  me  ?  "^ 

Or.^  Tarry  and  listen,  and  perhaps  thou  wilt  not  say  other- 

Elec.  I  stand,  and  am  altogether  thine,  for  thou  art  the 
more  powerful. 

Or.  I  am  come,  bearing  thee  words  from  thy  brother. 
I1.LEC.  O  dearest  one,  is  it  of  him  living  or  dead  ^ 
Or.  He  lives ;  I  fain  would  first  tell  thee  the  good  news. 
tLEC.  Mayest  thou  be  blest,  as  a  reward  for  most  pleasant 

Or.  I  give  this  in  common  for  both  of  us  to  possess. 
tLEC.  Where  on  earth  is  the  wretched  one  endurinir  a 
wretched  banishment  ?  «uiiui,  a 

Oil  He'«  is  wandering,  not  respecting  the  law  of  one 

Elec.  Ay,  perhaps  in  want  of  daily  sustenance. 
Or.  He  possesses  it  indeed,  but  is  weak  as  an  exiled  man. 
±.LEC.  But  what  message  comest  thou  bearing  from  him  ^ 
^R.  Whether  thou  art  alive,  and,  living,  what  fortunes  thou 

Elec.  Dost  thou  not  first  see  how  dried  up  is  my  frame  ' 
Or.  Ay  wasted  away  with  grief,  so  that  I  utter  a  groan.' 
i.LEC.  And  my  head,  and  locks  savage  with  being  shorn. 

the^'^Iuy  ?  '  '"^  '^^  ^''^''^'  ^"^'^^  ^  ^"PP^>  g°^^« 

Elec.  Alas !  for  what  is  dearer  to  me  than  these  ? 
Or.  Alas !  alas  I  how  indeed  art  thou  thought  of  by  thy 

Elec.  He  being  absent,  not  present,  is  dear  to  me. 

J!  Underttand  fj  iyw,  aftrr  rix'  o{,k  dXX*»f  iptlc- 
•  On  ^eipt'ieeat,  to  wander,  teo  Helen,  780,  and  Seidler. 
•*  *•  0.  not  Mvin;  a  fixed  abrde  m  any  city.   ' 


246—268. 


ELECTEA. 


43 


Or.  But  through  what  dost  thou  dwell  here,  far  away  from 

*^Elec.  I  have  wedded,  O  stranger,  a  deadly  wedding. 
Or.  I  grieve  for  your  brother.     [Was  it]  to  one  of  the 

^  ELEC^^Not  in  such  wise  as  my  father  at  some  time  ex- 

nected  to  bestow  me.  ,     ^x. 

Or.  Tell  me,  that  having  heard  I  may  tell  your  brother. 
Elec.  Far  off  from  him,  I  dwell  in  this  abode. 
Or.  Some  husbandman  or  neatherd  is  worthy  of  such  a 

dwelling.  .  , 

Elec.  A  man  poor,  noble,  and  pious  towards  me. 
Or.  But  what  piety  is  present  to  thine  husband  ^ 
Elec.  He  has  never  ventured  to  approach  my  bed.     ^  ^ 
Or.  Having  some  divine  feeling  of  chastity,  or  disdaining 

^ '  Elec.  He  did  not  think  himself  worthy  to  disgrace  my 

^""or'And  how  was  he  not  delighted  on  receiving  such  a 

™ "elec.  He  thinks,  O  stranger,  that  he  who  gave  me  had  no 

ri^ht  Fto  do  sol.*''  ,   .  ^,  ^ 

"Or.  I  understand,  lest  he  should  at  some  time  pay  the 

'"l^ic^'^nlibi.  very  thing.    Besides,  he  i.  by  nature 

^  O^  Alas !  thou  speakest  of  a  noble  fellow,  and  one  that 

must  be  well  treated.  ♦^  v:. 

Elec.  Ay,  if  he  who  now  is  absent  shall  ever  return  to  his 

Or   But  did  the  mother,  who  bore  thee,  suffer  this? 
Elec.  Women,  O  stranger,   are  friends  to  men,  not  to 

1  *U 

^  "or.  But  on  what  account  did  ^isthus  offer  thee  this 

*°  Elec.  He  wished  me  to  bring  forth  a  weak  race,  having 

ffiven  me  to  such  a  man.  vij-«« -^ 

Ob.  That,  forsooth,  you  might  not  bnng  forth  children  ^ 

avengers  ? 
•  Ct  Iph.  Attl.  703,  Zt^t  4n*1*«»  '^  '^^•^*  *  '^^****    BztDiM* 


44 


ELECTRA 


269-300 


rai  -S»«. 


ELECTEA 


45 


a  v?rs„""'  ''°''  •''^  ""'*''"■'  ''""«'"''  ""»-  ""»'  art  [Mi] 

8.letr    "'  ^°*'  ""' ''°°"  •  "'  ■■""  ''^P'  ""'  ^""^  W">  ■» 
V?..^Z  """"■  "'"'  »"'••'«'"•  O"--  word,  fnen<r8  to  thee' 

Argo,'  °"""'  •'°'  "■  ''«  "'•ouU  come  to  th,, 

..  n^rLj^t  In":;/"  ""'  '  ^  •■<"■'  "■'"="  "•»«  -K'*.  for  . 
of  h,:  father""  ■•"  """"  '"'"  ""S'"  ''^  "«>  '-  "-dere,. 

^  Or    Shall  I  tell  these  things  to  h.m.  and  .s  thy  r^olut.on 

o"  AU'  Ztla\i'";  n  ""« '''^''  "•*  "'^  "f  "y  ■»«"'"• 
E.  EC  Bu.  n^  ^T '7  *"^  "*"  *»  hear  this. 

from",/:  ;::,re;r;;  • '"  ""'"s  ^--s-  •- «-«  -p-^^-j 

E.\c  Ar  ,h!  "!i'°  ""'  t^V"^'  ••■°'  »»'»/  f™™  death  ? 
n^     A   A       ?    i"°"'  "■«  ^'""""  Pif-Jagogue  of  my  faUier 

oblamed.     "     ""'       ""  '"'"''•  ""^  ''^»  •<""ained  what  he  has 
„f  ?II.  ^" '  ";'""  "  "'"  ""•"  »»?"'  ?  Fo"-  ">«  perception  even 

0  bear     ForTb^r       ""P'"'"'"'  "<"■''»  '"d^d.  but  needful 

tault  buMn    fc  •  ?''''"^,  ""^  P-'y-  "o'  a'  all  in  the  un- 

taught,  but  in  the  wise  ol  mankind ;  for  it  is  not  even  free 
iron   harm  that  a  ,oo  wise  cleverness  is  in  the  wt  "" 

For  Mn.  far  fromlh.    1  "7^  ^""-'"^  "  ^'"*  «'  "■»  ">»". 

no^lf  Trs/^i^lTTotrr'  '  """^  "»'  *"« '"'  •"  «»  0''^ '  ""' 

£t£t.  I  will  spe,,k,  if  u  behoves  me.    And  it  behoves  me 


.„,11  toa  friend  ...el.eavy  f"-- "^^  ^Irtht  ^O 
But  since  thou  hast  »  rred    h    subjec^     ^^^^^_  .^ 

stranger,  to  tell  Urestes  ray  weighed  down, 

what  garments  I  live,  »"/ "" J.  ^r  a  royal  house  ;  1  myself 
and  under  what  a  roof  I  dwell,  »""  *  ™^*  ,^  „  i  should 
labouring  mine  own  garments  with  the  — .--^    ^^^, 

rri-^rrjar^fthrut  "^^^^^y^-^t  ^^ 

he  that  slew  him,  mounting  tueBauc  •  ^  ^    ^^  ^he 

^-''i' tirwtru^'::i"dX'Gr::rBVtr^^^^^ 

„f  myrtle;  but  the  l^unerap,le,b^^^^^^^ 
the  famous  spouse  (as  they  ^ali '«im;  "      j^ 

absence.     But,  U  ^"f  "^^^^  ,       ^^j    ^.i^^rge  upon  me,  but 

band)  aPF-«»'i"s"'o^'°"^^  ''^^'"^  T'"  tZ  Au^And 
Pea    Hah !  who  are  these  strangers  I  see  at  the  gate .  Ana 

f„r  :iu.t  r:l:«.n  have  they  come  near  this  rust.o  dcor^?    Is  • 
in  want  of  myself?   surely  it  is  unseemly  lor  a  woman  to 
landing  -Hh  young  men  ^^^^  .^^^  ^  ^^^p,^,„„  „f 

Buf  ttou  shaU  know  the  real  story  ;  for  these  strangers  ar- 

„,  4L  m  SovL.ad.  l>r.  iW.    BAa«. 


id 


ELECTRA. 


347— aw. 


come  to  me  as  heralds  of  the  words  of  Orestes      A„H    a 
ye,  O  strajger^  excuse  wh.t  h«  bee„  saii  ^"^   ''" 

l.oId  t{:elM?"'  """^^  ^'  ""^  """  •"'*•  "«1  lo^ie  be- 
iisS^Ld^bAf'*"""' "P"'*-  And  the,  sa,  thing,  no. 
^  JEA.  Does  he  at  Jl  remember  the  ills  of  thy  father  and  of 

aelt"^  ^*~  ■"•"*"  "*  '-  t-7  kope,].     Weak  is  an  ex- 

iiEO  ^H.  I*"'  "^"^k'  *^  **■*'  come-teffing  from  Orestes  » 
pif    <^      fu  "*".'  *''^'*  "^  «  spectators  of  my  w^     " 

thoul  T  '"^""^  ''n'"«  ^"•^  «*  fr'^nd^  from  a  friend     f"; 
ofB^th^GS^':^T^""^"'"'"'""^••'»™™«P°^i'^n 

notljLr  Butlo     r  »»J'"' judge.     Or  b/th„se  who  have 

on  flrm«  ?     R„f  Ik     1     ,  '  ^*"  ^  *"'"°  *®  C^*'^  consideration 

oin  cou^    For  tL     V°  ^^*^^  ^''^^  '^'''S^  *o  t^ke  their 

Ws  hUlC  tin'.  «''  ^''"^K  P"^t^  "P  ^'^'^  '^«  reputation  of 
excelLenT  Wm  v!  "„Til*^' °'"^^'^"^^»  ^'^*  ^^^^  {bund  most 
opinions  ^  ,.n^  H  ^  °'  ^  ''^•^'  ^^'^  ^«"<^^^  f"Il  of  vain 
Camon 'at  mi^^'p'^'"  'l^  °^*""^"  J"d««  of  the  well" 

citiw  and  hou^a^.  ^"i  'T^  ^''^  "V^^-^  ^^"  administer 
ciuw  ana  bouses;  but  flesh,  desutute  of  sense,  are  the  oma- 


388- «5. 


ELECTRA. 


47 


♦    r  4h,»  fomin    For  neither  does  the  stronger  arm  better 
ment  of  ihc  fomm.    ror  .^  .^  ^^^^^  ^„^ 

abide  the  ^P^^J^^,^^^^^^^^^^  or  not  present   the  son 

in  valour.  •B"*'7"7J^!ose  sake  we  are  come,  is  worthy,-let 
of  Agamemnon,  for  whose  saKC  wc  u  «rp  must  eo  within 
:,  acfept  the  hospitality  of  th.s  hous^  J*  ""^f/^  ^,^,,^^ 

this  dwelling,  servants.  F°' \^°"r„„"i„i„„].  I  therefore 
though  poor  host.  tb«n  »  neh  one  [^^^""»=    ,.^„„y  ^.^ 

accept  this  man's  reception  '^"^^^l^ZM^^ve  led  me  into 
wished  that  your  briber  p«si«n^g  CO  ^  «=<>■»«"  '»'  "'? 
CKS-a.^firmrbut  to  the  divination  of  men  I 
bid  adieu.  .        ^  Plprtra.  we  are  warmed 

at^hrnSir->^- jF^-^  ^"^"^'" 

house,  why  hast  thou  received  these  strangers      pe 

•"IL.  But  what?    If  they  are,  -  ^^^^  ^^ot'''^  ""'' 
will  they  not  be  equally  content  7'*^  "  K^7„°  ^„ees.  have 
.  E«c.  Since  then  {-•  ^'"6^"  ."^  S  gSl  of  m^  dear 
fallen  into  th.9  mistake,  go  *»  ^e  «.ea  g  /^  ^^^ 

father,  who,  around  the  nver  T»n»»%  *^'^„\„a,  tends  his 
fines  of  the  Argive  •'"''"^ /".fPeTy  And  bid  him. 
flocks,  having  been  cast  out  f«>™  /l^^  «'Y/  ^ething  as  a 
having  come  homeward,  to  ^"/^y-^tliXed  ^n^d  will 
banquet  for  the  strangers.  ««  «'"  ?!v,t"|e  boV  is  living 
offe?  prayers  to  '^e  «od^  ^henj,  ,he;«^^^^^^  ^^^^ 

whom  he  once  saved,    ^o'^®;"*"'     ^^    «nd  we  should  be 

to  the  old  man.     du\.  gu  ntv«  .xv:„       A   woman  m- 

Lsible,  and  make  ready  the  '°^;^^^^%7f.^;^„^  tor  a  ban^^^ 
5Sd,  if  willing,  can  find  many  thmgs  ^^  ^nng  for  a  oa  ^.^ 
And  there  is  even  now  so  much  at  home,  so  as  ^  j 

»         •    ?»AA   «  And*   liosoes.  contetnnere  opcit.et  U 
"  Cf  ViTg.  Mn.  viu.  364,  "  Aude,  0°??"'  )-        eaenis." 

'To'rSr  ".'.""So^i.™  S  r:^XpX.a.  .hr».h  U.. 
A,pv.tiiiU..7.i«loth.O«lf<rfTl.J... 


4S 


ELECTRA. 


42G-475. 


yj 


H-eal,h  ha,,  b'^.h  (o  be^'C'  '„'  ^  'Z  Te'  "  >""" 
preserve  one's  body  wl.en  fiillnn  i„.^  "'i  \  expense  fo 
dail7  food  it  come,  to  I  lie      p  ""''""' '  """  '^'^  ""^ *' 

or  ^„r,  bears  r;V.°Ii."  ""■'  ""'"  ""'"'  ""'''■  ""' 

ten,  of  Nrreu,  wT re  tTe  fl  "•       ,^f '''  "'"'  "'=  ''''"«'>- 

nround  ,be  ".row    wi,    Irk  L  r'l""  f''''""  ^'"P"''  ^^'"^'^ 

above*  tUoZZTih'ln  f\''^  ""■  "'''''''''  ^''"-'"^"'^  ["i^edl 
eut  terror  of . .:  Go  Vr^tl.  I'r"'  T  ''""'"«  ""^  «'-'«"- 
the  rustic"  son  of  5}°^^  r  "•■Tr''''';''''"''""S^'''''"J°«. 
radiant  eirele  of  he  "Ln  ,i?„  "^  ,""'^"  "^  "'«  *'">"  !''« 
the  ethereal  dan  es  rfTe  s,  r»T,; '  ,^.  "/"S^,-!  '"^'''-  -1 
We"  to  ,|,e  eves  of  jrecTor      R„.  "l''""'  '/^■="'"''  '""■ 

-;o„r.  tafterj  the  r=  t^Ia '^^rCZ;^ tt' 

Although  ^ittara  mav  wiili  «..<-«-   i        r 
Gordon,  yet  .tna/^nol  a  pJv^rn\,S:r„^„  ^1  '>"'  ""'^'^'^s  of  ,b. 

rest  of  the  descr.jM.on.     I  UunrEur^l'sH    '"?/'''  '""'  "'''">  '°  »'»^ 

;;j  Because  educated  m  Arcadi.i.     S-e  Se.dler 
•*  Sro  my  note  on  ^t.(h.  A?.  4.    'i ]^.  , * !d'?„ 

«  T^n^'  >"»'"g  to  flight' •'   ""''''•  ^-  ^'^• 


176-520. 


ELECTRA. 


49 


bch.M  if.  But  in  a  bloody  fight  four  hordes  were  vushing 
alt.ii",  AnX  round  tUoir  backs  the  black  dust  went  forth.  Tbe 
kin''"of  such  sp'ar-labouring  men  didst  thou  slay,  thy  hus- 
band, O  evil-minded  daughter  of  Tyndarus.  Wherefore  the 
powers  of  heaven  will  send  thee  down  to  death,  and  yet,  yet 
shall  I  behold  the  blood  poured  out  by  the  sword  beneath  thy 

gore-streaming  neck.  ,  „  .  .  3     •  * 

Old  Man.  Where,  where  is  my  youthful,  honoured  mistress, 
the  dau'^hter  of  Agamemnon,  whom  once  I  nurtured  ?  How 
steep  an  approach  it  is  to  these  dwellings  f.)r  me,  a  wrinkled 
old  man,  to  draw  nigh  witli  my  foot !  But  nevertheless  I 
must  needs  drag  on  my  bent  spine  and  crooked  knee.  O 
dau-hter,  (for  I  but  just  now  behold  thee  near  the  house,)  I 
am  "come  bearing  to  thee  this  young  offspring  of  my  fold, 
havin'T  taken  it  from  the  flocks,  and  garland^^*  and  cheese 
which^  I  have  takon  out  of  the  presses,  and  this  old  store  of 
Bacchus,  redoh^nt  of  fragrance,  little  indeed,  but  still  'tis  sweet 
to  pour  a  cup  of  this  into  a  weaker  draught.  Let  some  one  go 
and  boar  these  into  the  house  for  the  ^^-'^gers.  But  I,  having 
bedewed  mine  eyes  with  tears,  would  fain  wipe  them  away 
with  this  my  tattered  garment. 

Elf.c.  But  wherefore,  O  aged  man,  hast  thou  thme  eye 
thus  wet  ?  Have  mine  afflictions  after  a  long  interval  awakened 
thy  remembrance?  Or  dost  thou  bemoan  the  unhappy  e.xile 
i.f  Orestes,  and  my  sire,  whom  once  holding  in  thine  arms, 
thou  didst  in  vain  nurture  for  thee  and  thy  friends  ? 

Old  M.  In  vain.  But  nevertheless  this  at  least  I  could 
not  refraiii  from.^^  For  I  came  to  his  tomb,  aside  from  the 
road,  and  falling  down,  I  went,  having  met  with  solitude,  and 
1  p.»urcd  out  libations,  having  opened  the  skin  which  I  beat 
for  the  stranger-*,  and  set  myrtle  garlands  around  the  tomb. 
But  upon  the  pih'  itself  I  saw  the  victim,  a  sable-fleeced  sheep, 
and  the  blood  but  lately  shed,  and  shorn  locks  of  auburn  hair. 
And  I  marvelled.  0  daughter,  whoever  of  men  had  dared  to 
.•oniP  to  the  tomb ;  for  it  certainly  wa^  none  of  the  Arsivc'*. 
^ut  perchance.  I  think,  thy  brother  has  come  pnivdy,  and  on 
lij-  coming  ha-  honourod  the  rai-prable  tomb  of  hii»  sire.  And 
d  )  thou  e^aminr.  the  hair,  placing  it  against  thy  hair,  whether 

*«  Recal'  the  old  reading  arKbavovq,  with  Heath.  DaiA     iriKavov^  ". 
Jatob's  conjiMiture. 
•*  Befcrruig  to  what  immediately  follows 


50 


ELECTRA. 


521-655. 


556-681. 


ELECTRA. 


51 


the  tint  of  the  shorn  tresses  is  the  same.  For  in  those  who 
have  the  same  father's  blood,  most  parts  of  the  body  are  wont 
to  be  naturally  alike. 

Elec.  Thou  speakest  words  unworthy  of  a  wise  man  O 
aged  one,  if  thou  thinkest  that  my  very  bold  brother  would 
come  by  stealth  into  this  land  through  fear  of  ^gisthus. 
Ihen  how  will  the  lock  of  hair36  agree,  the  one  belonging  to 
a  well-born  man  brought  up  in  wrestling  exercises,  bit  the 
other  to  a  female  [brought  up]  amidst  wool-combing  ?  It  is 
impossible  And  thou  wilt  find  similar  hair  among  many 
persons,  though  not  sprung  from  the  same  blood,  old  man 
r^.i^^'^eu'     V    *^°  ^^""^  stepping  in  his  track,37  consider  the 

tXt.  oVhiir^ "''''"  ''  ''  ^'  ''^  "°^^  °^^"-  -''» 

Elec.  But  how  could  there  be  an  impression  of  feet  unon 
the  stony  surface  of  the  ground  ?  And  if  it  were  so,  the  ^t 
of  a  brother  and  sister  would  not  be  equal,  of  a  man  and 
woman  ;  but  the  male  prevails. 

Old  M.  Is  there  no  [evidence],  by  which,  supposing  your 
brother  to  have  come  to  the  land,  you  might  discern  the 
sZild  die  ^  «^""1-'^  i«  ^hich  I  once  conceal  h^  1st  t 

*!,  ^l"^^:  Knowest  thou  not,  when  Orestes  was  banished  from 
the  land,  that  I  was  a  mere  child?  But  if  I  did  weave  the 
vest,  how  would  he,  being  then  a  child,  be  now  wearin-  the 
same  garments,  unless  the  robes  grew  along  with  the  body  ? 
Uut  either  some  stranger,  pitying  his  [undecked]  tomb,  or 
some  one  of  this  land,  obtaining  [the  opportunity  of]  dirk- 
ness,  has  shorn  his  own  hair. 

Old  M.  But  where  are  the  strangers  ?  for  I  wish  to  see 
and  ask  them  concerning  thy  brother.  ' 

the^house"*'^^'^  "^''^  ^"'"^^  *^^^  ^^^^  *^®  ^"^""'"^  °"*  ^'^°» 
Old  M   And  they  are  noble  indeed,  but  this  is  superficial  • 
for  many  born  noble,  are  base  ;  but  nevertheless  I  s^  to  the 
strangers,  hail.  ^ 

Or.  Hail  thou  !  O  aged  man.     Of  what  friend  is  this  man 
the  ancient  rebct,  Electra  ? 

Elec.  He  nurtured  my  sire,  O  stranger. 

"  Pf  ^nif  *  '/^oA-  *'  ^»«J»yl^    Cf.  Choeph.  187  sqq. 
Cf.  ChuepU.  2')o  »q(i.  m  choejh.  233^^, 


Or.  What  sayest  thou  ?    Was  this  he  who  privily  removed 

thy  brother  ? 
Elec.  This  is  he  who  saved  him,  if  he  indeed  is  yet  in 

being.  ...        , 

Or.  Ah !  why  has  he  gazed  on  me,  as  though  viewing  the 

clear  stamp  of  silver  ?    Does  he  liken  me  to  any  one  ? 

Elec.  Perchance  he  is  pleased  at  looking  on  thee,  a  com- 
peer of  Orestes. 

Or.  Ay,  of  a  well-loved  man ;  but  wherefore  does  he  turn 

his  step  around  me  ? 

Elec.  I  too  marvel  as  I  behold  this,  0  stranger. 

Old  M.  O  revered  daughter  Electra,  adore  the  deities. 

Elec.  In  respect  of  what  things  absent  or  present  ? 

Old  M.   For  holding  the  cherished  treasure,  which  a  God 

Elec.  Lo  !  I  call  upon  the  Gods.     Or  what  dost  thou  mean 

indeed,  old  man ?  .n,    ,.„ 

Old  M.  Look  then  upon  this  most  beloved  one,  O  child. 
Elec.  Long  since  I  fear  lest  thou  art  no  longer  in  thy 

right  senses.  ,   ,    , ,.         , 

Old  M.   Am   I   not  in  my  right  senses,  beholding  thy 

brother?  .       /^       j         o 

Elec.  How  sayest  thou  this  incredible  saying,  O  aged  man  f 
Old  M.  That  in  this  man  I  see  Orestes,  the  son  of  Aga- 
memnon. ,  .  1.    T 

Elec.  Perceiving  what  indication,  by  which  I  may  be 

persuaded?  »•  i.  • 

Old  M.  a  scar  near  upon  his  forehead,  by  which  once  in 
his  father's  house  he,  falling,  was  stained  with  blood,  pursuing 

with  thee  a  hind.  . ,  r 

Elec.  How  sayest  thou?    I  see  indeed  the  evidence  of 

the  fall 

Old  M.  And  then  dost  thou  delay  to  fall  upon  those  most 

dear?  .        •  j  ▼"* 

Elec.  But  no  longer  so,  O  aged  man ;  for  in  mind  I  am 
persuaded  by  thy  proofs.  O  thou  who  appearest  after  a  long 
season,  unexpectedly  I  hold  thee. 

Or.  Ay,  and  by  me  thou  art  held  after  a  long  season. 

Elec.  Never  did  I  expect  it. 

Or.  Nor  did  I  hope  it 

Elec.  Art  thou  be? 


52 


ELECTRA. 


581—621 


622-645. 


ELECTRA. 


63 


Or.  Ay,  tl»ine  only  ally,  if  incl<^ed  I  can  htit  cli-aw  up 
faucoos«ifiilly]  tlip  net  after  which  I  am  going.  IJut  f  have  a 
good  ti  usf ,  or  it  behoves  one  no  longer  to  think  that  there  aro 
Gods,  if  unjust  deeds  get  the  advantage  of  justice. 

Cho.  Thou  hast  come,  thou  hast  coine,  O  day.  after  a 
long  time ;  thou  hast  shone  out,  thou  hast  shown  forth  a  clear 
torch  to  the  city,  which  wretched  during  a  long  exile  from  an 
ancestral  home  has  come  wandering.  Some  God,  some  Gorl 
again  brings  on  our  victory.  Uplift  your  hands,  uplift  your 
voice,  send  forth  prayers  to  the  Gods,  that  thy  brother  may 
enter  the  city  with  good  fortune,  with  good  fortune. 

Or.  Be  it  so.  I  indeed  have  the  sweet  pleasure  of  em- 
braces, but  in  time  again  we  shall  be«^tow  them.  But  do  thou 
say,  O  aged  man,  (for  thou  hast  come  in  season,)  by  what 
doing  shall  I  punish  the  murderer  of  my  father,  and  mv 
mother,  partaker  of  an  unholy  marriage.  Is  there  anght  of 
friends  well-di<po<»ed  towanls  me?  Or  have  I  prepared  all 
things,  according  to  fortunes  ?  With  whom  shall  I  confederate  ? 
By  night,  or  by  day?  By  what  road  shall  I  turn  against  mine 
enemies  ? 

Old  M.  O  son,  to  thee  unhappy  no  one  is  a  friend.  For 
this  thing  is  [indof^d]  a  discovery,  to  share  good  and  evil  in 
common.  But  do  thou  (f(»r  thou  art  utterly  undone  from  the 
very  foundations,  in  respect  to  thv  friends,  nor  hast  thoo  left 
any  hope)  know  this,  hearing  fiom  me.  In  thy  hand  and 
fortune  thou  hast  all  the  chance  of  recovering  thy  ancestral 
house  and  city. 

Or.  By  doing  then  what,  shall  we  reach  this  end  ? 

Old  M.  By  slaying  the  son  of  Thyestes  and  thy  mother. 

Or.  I  am  come  for  this  crown  [of  success],  and  how  shall 
J  obtain  it  ? 

Old  M.  Not  by  going  indeed  within  the  walls,  even  if  you 
wished. 

Or.  Is  he  protected  by  the  guards  and  their  right  hands? 

OiD  M  Thou  hast  hit  it;  for  he  fears  you,  and  sleeps  nor 
in  certainty. 

Or.   Well !  do  thou  then  henceforward  advise,  old  man. 

Old  M.  And  do  thou  hear  me;  for  somethin"-  has  ju«j 
come  into  my  thoughts. 

Or.   Mayest  thou  give  some  good  advice,  and  I  hoar  it. 

Old  M.  £  saw  -^gisthus  as  I  was  coming  slowly  hither — 


UR.  I  attend  to  what  you  have  said.     In  what  place  ? 

Old  M.  Near  upon  these  horse-pasturing  meadows. 

Or.  Doing  what  ?  For  I  see  help  out  of  things  inex- 
tricable. 

Old  AI.  He  was  preparing  a  banquet  for  the  Nymphs,  as 
it  seemed  to  me. 

Or.  As  a  payment  for  his  sons'  nurturing,  or  for  future 
offspring  ? 

Old  M.  I  know  but  one  thing ;  he  had  armed  himself  for 
the  slaughter  of  a  bull. 

Or.  With  how  many  companions  ?  Or  was  he  alone  with 
his  domestics  ? 

Old  M.  No  Argive  was  present,  but  his  OAvn  band  [of 
servants]. 

Or.  Is  there  any  one  who  will  know  me,  when  he  sees  me, 
old  man  ? 

Old  M.  His  servants  only  are  present,  who  have  never 
seen  thee. 

Or.  But  would  they  be  friendly  to  us,  if  we  prevailed  ? 

Old  M.  Ay,  for  this  is  peculiar  to  slaves,  and  useful  to 
thee. 

Or.  How,,  then,  should  I  even  approach  him  ? 

Old  M.  Going  [to  a  place]  where  he  will  see  thee,  as  he 
is  sacrificing. 

Or.  He  is  in  the  fields  by  the  way  itself,  as  it  seems. 

Old  M.  Ay,  from  whence  espying  thee,  he  will  invite 
you  to  share  his  banquet. 

Or.  In  truth  a  bitter  fellow-banqueter,  if  God  be  willing. 

Old  M.  Observe  henceforward  according  to  the  occasion. 

Or.  Well  hast  thou  spoken.     But  where  is  my  mother  ? 

Old  M.  At  Argos  j  but  she  will  come  to  the  drinking  and 
banquet.^ 

Or.  But  wherefore  did  not  my  mother  set  out  at  once  with 
her  husband  ? 

Old  M.  She  was  left,  dreading  the  reproach  of  the  citizens. 

Or.  I  understand.  She  knowa  that  she  is  suspected  by 
the  city. 

Old  M.  So  it  is ;  for  an  impious  woman  is  hated. 

••  Bui  we  must  evidently  correct  Iv  Tax^t,  with  Reiske.  iroffu  came 
from  the  following  line.  If  correct,  sroati  is  here  "  drinking,"  as  Barnes 
observes. 


54 


ELECTRA 


64ft-667. 


Or.  How  then  shall  I  sky  at  once  both  her  and  this 
fellow  ? 

Elec.  I  indeed  will  contrive  the  death  of  my  mother. 

Or.  And  truly  fortune  shall  set  that  matter  right. 

Elec.  Let  then  this  man  help  us,  being  two. 

Old  M.  This  shall  be.  But  how  wilt  thou  devise  death 
for  thy  mother  ? 

Eleo.  [Go  and  say  thus,  old  man,  to  Clytaemnestra.]  Bear 
word  that  I  am  brought  to  bed  in  labour  of  a  male. 

Old  M.  Whether  having  brought  forth  some  time  since,  or 

lately? 

Elec.  Ten  suns ;  duripg  which  the  woman  in  labour  is 

purified. 

Old  M.  But  what  in  truth  does  this  tend  to  thy  mother's 
death? 

Elec.  She  will  come,  when  she  has  heard  of  my  childbirth 
aickness. 

Old  M.  Whence?  What  dost  thou  think  she  cares,  0 
child? 

Elec.  Yea,  and  she  will  bemoan  the  dignity  *<>  of  my  off- 
spring. 

Old  M.  Perhaps  so ;  I  lead  thy  discourse  back  to  the  point 
of  turning. 

Elec.  It  is  plain  that  she  will  perish  when  she  has  come. 

Old  M.  And  truly  let  her  come  to  the.  very  gates  of  the 
dwelling. 

Elec.  Is  it  not  a  little  thing  to  turn  to  Hades  ?** 

Old  M.  Would  that  I  might  die,  having  sometime  beheM 
this. 

Elec.  Then  first  of  all  lead  the  way  for  this  person,  old 
man. 

Old  M.  [What  to]  where  iEgisthus  is  now  sacrificing  to 
the  Gods? 

Elec.  Then  meeting  my  mother,  deliver  my  message. 

Old  M.  Ay,  so  that  it  shall  seem  to  be  spoken  by  thy  own 
mouth. 

**  i.  e.  their  fallen  condition.  But  I  think  WoodhuU  is  nearer  the  sense  : 

"  Yes,  and  weep 
To  learn  I  am  become  a  happy  mother." 
*'  Setdler  :  "  ovkovv  (TfiiKpov  (terri)  rpairiaOai  roSt  (^/jXoj'on  3  \iynQ 
E12  AOMUN  vvkaQ,  uari  ilvai)  EI2  'AIAOV."  I  am  but  half  satisfied. 


W8-703. 


ELECTRA 


55 


Elec.  'Tis  thy  task  now.  Thou  art  allotted  first  to  begin 
the  slaughter. 

Or.  I  will  go,  if  any  one  will  be  leader  of  the  way. 

Old  M.  And  in  truth  I  will  escort  thee  not  unwillingly. 

Or.  O  thou  ances^al  Jove,  putter  to  flight  of  mine  enemies, 
pity  us,  for  we  have  suffered  pitiable  things. 

Elec.  Ay,  pity  those  who  are  born  thy  descendants. 

Or.  And  thou,  Juno,  who  rulest  over  the  Mycenian  altars, 
grant  us  the  victory,  if  we  crave  just  things. 

Elec.  Give  indeed  to  us  an  avenging  power  for  our  sire. 

Or.  And  thou  who  impiously  dost  dwell  below  the  earth, 
O  father,  [and  thou  queen  Earth,  to  whom  I  stretch  forth 
my  hands,]  aid,  aid  these  thy  dearest  children.  Now  come, 
taking  all  the  dead  as  allies,  as  many  as  with  thee  destroyed 
the  Phrygians  with  the  s))ear,  and  as  many  as  hate  impious 
assassins.  Hast  thou  heard,  O  thou  that  hast  suffered  dread- 
ful things  from  my  mother  ? 

Elec.  Father  hears  all,  I  know ;  but  it  is  time  to  go.  And 
to  thee  I  proclaim  moreover  that  .^Egisthus  must  die.  Sc 
that,  if  in  contest  thou  shalt  fall  a  deadly  fall,  I  also  am  dead  j 
nor  speak  of  me  as  living ;  for  I  will  smite  my  head  with  a 
two-edged  sword.  But  going  within  the  dwelling,  I  will  make 
ready,  so  that,  should  prosperous  tidings  of  thee  arrive,  the 
whole  house  shall  shout  aloud ;  but  if  thou  diest,  the  contrary 
of  these  things  will  be.     1  tell  thee  this. 

Or.  I  know  all. 

Elec.  Therefore  it  behove's  thee  to  be  a  man.  But  do  you, 
O  women,  well  light  up  the  shout  of  this  contest.*'  But  I 
will  keep  guard,  carrying  in  my  hand  a  ready  spear.  For 
never,  overcome  by  my  enemies,  will  I  pay  the  penalty  foi 
my  body  to  be  abused. 

Cho.  a  report  remains  in  the  ancient  traditions  of  the 
Argive  mountains/^  that  once  on  a  time  Pan,  the  guardian  oi 

**  TlvpiTiviTt,  i.  q.  atifialvtn,  quasi  hodie  diceres,  aend  me  tntelUgenct 
by  telegraph.    I^obree. 

**  Matthiee  would  join  araXaQ  vxb  fiaripoe  with  XP-  opva  iroptuffat, 
makmg  vvb  ■=*  vtik,  as  vrro  irriptHv  avaaaQ.  Andr.  442.  Regarding  the 
Itcccnd  of  the  golden  fleece,  see  Ore&t.  812  sqq.  Iph.  Taur.  196.  The 
f»)ll«wing  passages  are  important ;  Senec.  Thycst.  221  sqq.,  "  Est  Pelopu 
altis  nobile  in  stabulis  pecus,  Arcanus  aries.  ductor  opuleiiti  grcgis ;  Hu- 
jus  per  omne  corpus  etfuso  coma  Dependet  auro  ^  ci.t^  e  tergo,  novi 
Aurata  reges  sceptra  Tanlalici  gcrunt.  Possessor  1  ;.,  L  i «./>.•';  1  unc 


I(  I 


5^  ELECTRA  704-748. 

the  fields,  breathing  forth  a  sweet-sounding  song  on  the  well- 
compacted  reeds,  conducted  from  its  tender  mother  a  ram 
Avith  beauteous  fleece  of  gold.  And  standing  on  a  rocky 
bench,  a  herald  exclaimed,  "  To  the  forum,  to  the  forum 
come,  O  Mjcenians,  about  to  behold  prodigies,  [and]  fearful 
visions  of  happy  rulers."  And  choirs  of  the  sons  of  Atreus 
adorned  the  dwelling,  and  the  gold-decked  tenftples"  were 
opened,  and  on  the  altars  through  the  city  the  fire  offered  by 
the  Argives  blazed.  And  the  pipe,  the  minister  of  the  Muses, 
sent  forth  a  most  beauteous  sound,  and  delightful  songs  in- 
creased concerning  the  golden  lamb,  as  praises  of  Thyestes/^ 
For  having  seduced  the  dear  wife*^  of  Atreus  to  clandestine 
nuptials,  he  bears  off  the  prodigy  to  his  home,  and  returning 
to  the  assembly,  he  proclaims  that  he  possessed  the  golden- 
fleeced  horned  flock  in  his  dwelling.  Then  indeed,  then  Jove 
changed  the  shining  paths  of  the  stars,  and  the  light  of  the 
Sun,  and  the  white,  face  of  Morn,  and  to  the  western  side  he 
drives  [them]  with  warm  flames  glittering  from  heaven,  and 
the  damp  clouds  [go]  towards  the  north,  and  the  dry  seats  of 
Hammo.n  are  parched  for  lack  of  moisture,  deprived  of  the 
fairest  showers  from  Jove."*^  It  is  said  (but  with  me,  at  least, 
it  has  little  credit)  that  the  golden-visaged  sun  turned  away, 
having  changed  his  warm  station  through  a  mortal  misfor- 
tune, on  account  of  mortal  justice.**  But  stories  terrible  to 
mortals  are  a  gain  for  the  worship  of  the  Gods ;  of  which 
thou  being  unmindful,  hast  slain  thy  husband,  thou  joint 
mother**  of  noble  children.*®  Hold,  hold,  my  friends,  heard 
ye  a  noise  ?  or  has  a  vain  opinion  possessed  me,  like  as  the 

tantte  domus  Fortuna  sequitur."  A  poet  in  Cicer,  de  N.  D.  ill.,  "  Addo 
hue,  quod  mihi  portento  coelestum  pater  Prodigium  misit,  regni  stabiliraen 
mei ;  Agnum  inter  pecudes  aiirea  clarura  coma.  Quondam  Thyestem 
clepere  ausum  esse  e  regia:  Qua  in  re  adjutricem  conjugem  cepit  sibi." 

**  I  see  little  difficulty  in  understanding  QvfieXai  as  put  for  the  temples 
themselves,  a  part  for  the  whole. 

**  But  read  a»c  Ivri  \6yoQ,  Ov'kttov,  with  Seidl.  Dind. 

«•  Aerope.  Cf.  Scrr.  on  JEn.  xi.  262.  Hygin.  Fab.  86.  Columna  on 
Ennius,  Fragm.  p.  272  sq.  ed.  Hessel. 

«  At69tv  =  tr  Atdc.  (Cf.  Hel.  2,  Mac  ypaxaSoc.  Alcaeus,  Fragm.  J,) 
from  the  supposition  that  rain  was  sent  by  Jove. 

*  i.  e.  the  Thyestean  banquet,  in  revenge  for  the  seduction  of  Aerope. 

*•  Merely  equivalent  to  ytvirttpa,  unless  we  understand,  with  Mui- 
gravc,  "  gtuB  simul  procreavit,  i.  e.  simul  cum  marito." 

*•  Electra  and  Orestes. 


749-782. 


ELECTRA. 


57 


nether  thundering  of   Jove?      Behold  I    these   sounds   arr 
wafted  not  indistinct.     My  mistress  Electra,  pass  out  of  this 


dwelling. 


Elec.  My  friends,  what  Is  the  matter  ?  To  what  peril  are 
we  come  ? 

Cho.  I  know  but  one  thing,  I  Iicar  a  shriek  of  death. 

Elec.  I  also  heard  it,  far  off  indeed,  but  yet  [I  heard  it]. 

Clio.  Ay,  for  sound  comes  a  long  distance,  and  still  clear. 

Elec.  Is  it  the  groan  of  an  Argive,  or  of  my  friends? 

Clio.  I  know  not ;  for  all  the  tone  of  the  cry  is  confused. 

Elec.  Thou  cnjoinest  this  as  a  death  to  me;  why  do  wo 
hesitate  ? 

Cho.  Stop !  that  thou  mayest  clearly  learn  thy  fortunes. 

Elec.  It  cannot  be.    We  are  vanquished ;  for  where  are  the 


messengers  ? 


Cho.  They  will  come  ;  it  is  no  easy  task  to  kill  a  king. 
.    Messenger,  O  ye  victorious  Mycenian  virgins,  I  pronounce 
to  all  his  friends  that  Orestes  is  victorious,  and  that  the  mur- 
derer of  Agamemnon,  JEgisthus,  lies  on  the  ground ;  and  it 
is  meet  to  adore  the  Gods. 

Elec.  And  who  art  thou  ?  How  dost  thou  signify  t#  lac 
things  certain  ? 

Mess.  Knowcst  thou  not  that  thou  beholdcst  in  mc  an  at- 
tendant on  thy  brother. 

Elec.  O  dearest  one,  through  fear  indeed  I  had  a  difficulty 
in  recognising  thy  face ;  but  now  indeed  I  know  thee.  What 
sayest  thou  ?     Is  my  father's  hated  murderer  dead  ? 

Mess.  He  is  dead ;  I  tell  thee  twice,  what  thou  indeed 
wishest. 

Clio.  0  Gods,  and  Justice,  that  beholdest  all  things,  thou 
ha<t  come  at  last. 

Elec.  But  in  what  manner  and  by  what  system  of  slaugh- 
ter he  slew^  the  son  of  Thyestes  I  desire  to  learn. 

Mess.  After  we  had  withdrawn  our  footsteps  from  these 
dwellings,  we  entered  upon  a  dividing  waggon-road,  where 
was  the  renowned  king  of  the  jMycenians.  And  he  chanced 
to  be  walking  in  his  well-watered  gardens,  cropping  for  hi« 
head  branches  of  tender  myrtle.  And  on  seeing  us,  he  cries 
out :  O  strangers;,  who  are  vo  ?  Whence  come  ye,  and  of  what 
land  arc  ye  ?  And  Oresies  replied :  "  We  are  Thessalians. 
nnd  ar9  come  to  Alphcus  in  order  to  sacrifice  to  Olj'^mpian 


■  I 


58 


ELECTRA 


m-ws. 


Jove.**     And  -^gistlius.  hearing  this,  speaks  thus :  "  Now  in- 
deed ye  must  be  as  my  hearth-sharers  in  the  feast :  for  I  hap- 
pen to  be  sacrificing  a  bull  to  the  Nymphs ;  but  having  risen 
in  the  morning  from  bed  ye  will  go  the  same  way.*'     But  let 
us  go  within  the  house.**    And,  thus  saying,  he  took  us  by  the 
hand,  and  led  us  on ;  nor  was  it  right  to  refuse.     But  when 
we  were  within  the  house,  he  speaks  thus :  "  Lei  some  one 
with  all  speed  bring  lavers  for  the  guests,  that  they  may  stand 
round  the  altar  near  the  lustral  vessels."     But  Orestes  an- 
swered :  "  We  are  but  lately  purified  in  pure  baths  from  river 
streams.     But  if  it  befit  strangers  to  join  with  the  citizens  in 
sacrifice  we  are  ready,  king  ^gisthus,  and  refuse  not."     This 
conference  then  they  both  broke  off  in  the  middle  ;  and  the 
servants,  having  laid  down  the  spears,  the  protection  of  tlieir 
master,  all  set  their  hands  to  work.      Some  bore  a  vessel 
to  catch  the   blood ;    others  uplifted    the   canisters ;    others 
kindled    the    fire,    and    placed    the    cauldrons    round    the 
hearth;    and  the  whole  roof  echoed.      But  the   partner  of 
thy  mother's  bed,  taking  the  salted  cakes,  cast  them  on  the 
altar,  speaking  such  words  as  these :  "  Ye  Nymphs  of  the  rook, 
[grant]  that  I  may  often  sacrifice  a  bull,  as  also  my  wife 
within  the  house,  the  daughter  of  Tyndarus  faring  as  we  do 
now  ;  but  that  my  enemies  [may  fare]  ill " — meaning  Orestes 
and  thee.     But  my  master  prayed  the  opposite — not  speaking 
aloud — that  he  might  recover  his  ancestral  home.     And  iEgis- 
thus,  taking  a  straight  knife  out  of  the  canister,  cut  off  [some 
of]  the  bullock's  hair,  and  placed  it  on  the  pure  flame  with  his 
right  hand ;  then  he  slew  the  bullock  on  the  shoulders  of  the 
servants,  as  they  lifted  it  with  their  hands,  and  speaks  thus 
to  thy  brother:  ••They  boast  that  this  is  among  the  nobjf* 
deeds  of  the  Thessalians,  to  di«?'*ect  a  bull  skilfully,  and  to  rein 
in  horses.     Take  the  steel,  0  stranger,  and  prove  that  the  re- 
port concerning  the  Thessalians  is  true."    But  he.  having  seized 
in  his  hands  the  well- wrought  Doric  blade,  stripping  off  thf» 
well-fastened  robe  from  his  shouMer-*.  took  Pyladc*,  indepd. 
as  an  assistant  in  the  toil  and  pushpd  away  the  domestics. 
Then  seizing  the  foot  of  the  bullock,  he  laid  bare  thn  white  flesh, 
stretching  out  his  hand,  and  more  quickly  stripped  off  the  skin 
than  a  horse  courser  could  finish  twice  twelve  hundred  paces,  '* 

"  Tho  srnse  is.  "  you  will  come  to  the  same  thing."  i.  e.  you  will  not 
be  biadcicd  on  your  way.  «  jJec  Bamc*, 


8-2C— 865. 


ELECTK.^. 


59 


and  he  opened  the  flank.     And  ^Egisthus,  taking  the  entrails 
in  his  hands,  examined  them.     But  the  lobe  was  not  in  the 
entrails;  and  the  entrance  [of  the  liver]  and  the  receptacle  of 
the  bile  denoted  evil  attacks  upon  the  searcher.     And  he  in- 
deed knit  his  brow ;  but  my  master  asked,  *'  Wherefore  art 
thou  sad,  O  stranger?"     [He  replied]:   "I  fear  some  fo- 
reign plot;  for  the  son  of  Agame^nnon  is  most  detested,  and 
is  hostile  to  mine  house."     But  he  replied :  "  Dost  thou  dread 
the  stratagem  of  a  wanderer,  being  ruler  over  the  city  ?   Wil 
not  some  one  exchange  for  us  a  Phthian  chopper  *3  instead  of  a 
Dorian,  that  we  may  celebrate  the  banquet  of  inspection  ?'*  I 
will  cleave  open  the  breast.""     Then  holding,  he  cleaves  it ; 
and    -<Egisthus,    taking    the   entrails,''^    contemplated    them, 
having  separated  them.     But  as  he  stooped  down,  thy  bro- 
ther, standing  on  tip-toe,  smote  him  on  the  spine,  and  broke 
the  joints  of  his  back.     And   all  his  body  was  convulsed 
up  and  down,  and  he  howled,  dying  with  difliculty  from  the 
death-blow.     But  when  the  servants  beheld  it,  they  forthwith 
rushed  to  arms,  being  many  to  fight  against  two ;  but  through 
their  valour   Pylades  and  Orestes  stood   brandishing  their 
weapons  before  their  faces.     And  he  (Orestes)  said  :  "  1  am 
not  come  as  an  enemy  to  this  city,  nor  to  my  subjects,  but  I, 
the  hapless  Orestes,  have  avenged  myself  on  the  murderer  of 
my  sire.     Slay  me  not  then,  ye  ancient  domestics  of  my  sire." 
But  they,  after  they  heard  his  words,  restrained  their  spears ; 
and  he  was  recognised  by  some  aged  veteran  in  the  house. 
And  straightway  they  crown  the  head  of  thy  brother,  re- 
joicing, shouting.     And  he  comes  to  thee  to  show  the  head, 
not  bearing  that  of  the  Gorgon,  but  of  him  thou  hatest,  JEgis- 
thus.     But  blood  for  blood  has  come  upon  him,  who  now  dies, 
as  the  bitter  payment  for  a  debt. 

Cho.  Place  thy  step  for  a  dance,  O  dear  one,  like  a  fawn, 
with  dflight  lightly  moving  its  bounding  aloft.  Thy  brother 
con<]uerd,^'  having  accomplished  a  garland -bearing  better  than 
by  the  streams  of  Alpheus.  But  ohant  a  strain  of  victory  for 
my  dance 

"  Beoanse  Orcstps  i)retendt(l  in  he  a  Thessnhan 
**  With  vn'arqptav  uudcrbl.ind  Ootvtfv  or  Ovatav 
'*  Called  a  tmioibe  from  it«  humlar  shape.     llEibKE 
••  i.  e.  of  iht'  brca-il,  the  heart,  lungs,  &c. 
J*.  I  read  vm^,  with  Canter,  Musgr..  Dind 


i  \ 


00 


ELECTRA. 


866-90*. 

n.ent9  for  the  ha^  I  [possess]"  and  my  dwelliCcJnceal  O 
fnends,  and  I  will  crown  the  head  of  my  victories  brother 

Cuo.  Do  jou  then  bring  forth  ornaments  for  the  head  • 
but  on  ou,  part  the  dance  loved  by  the  Muses  shall  proceed' 
•mstTvZ  ^"'^^.^^•'■.''^■"vcd  kings  rule  our  land.7avTng 
,U3%  put  down  the  unjust;  and  let  a  shout  go  forth,* attuned 

i^^''^''-  ^i""""  "'""  *  e'""""'  ^'"'"T.  born  of  a  sire  vic- 

locTs  of'?h  '!  T"  ""t^^  ^r-  O-'-.  receive  fiUets  for  the 
ocks  of  thine  ha.r.  For  thou  art  come  to  thy  home,  not  a« 
haying  run  an  useless  contest  of  six  plethraf^'  but  havin ' 
slam  the  enemy  ^gisthus,  who  destroyed  thi^'e  and  my  Z* 
And  do  hou,  Pylades,  a  shield  companion,  [and]  nureliJ  of 
a  most  p,ous  man,«  receive  a  garland  from  mV  handT  for  thou 
too  bearest  an  equal  share  of  the  contest  with  this  mZ  and 

7,  y«  «^^r  "PP'-ar  to  me  fortunate. 

thX.  If  i"  'li*  "■■"  P'»<^*'  E'^^'ra,  that  the  Gods  are 

r  of  .t"r"//^"/'";r'  ""■•  •''^"  ^'"""='"1  »«.  the  minis! 

^J^l.l.  . '  ""'^  °r  '^'^''"*-     ^o''  I  "^  come,  having  slain 

^gisthus  not  in  word,  but  in  deed ;  and  to  give  anr  one  the 

{^er  :Lmtt"h'  *'"'-,f"="'''  '  """S  thelaVhU^/'o 
fixing  To  ,  «  I  .•  nl' '  ^^^^  "'  »  P'-'^y  «°  -""-l  be«»'^  or, 
dren  of  tL  ^J''     f  ""l"  ^'"'"'  "  "^'^  <■»'  birds,  the  chiN 

Wn  cMl^d  %'masfe"  "'  "  ""^  '"^  ^'"^'^  '"""S  "«'•<'- 

n^^  wi  ^"?  ashamed,  yet  wish  to  speak. 

P-fio    rr  V"  'n'  ^P^^'' '  '^"^®  *^°"  »r'  ^«^  off  from  fear. 

witli  fnt-l-        '^  ^"^  '°'"^'  *^^  ^*^^^»  ^^«'  ««°^e  one  smite  me 
with  mvidiousness. 

Or.  There  is  no  one  who  could  blame  thee. 

i:-LEC.  Our  city  is  hard  to  please,  and  fond  of  slander. 

!•  e.  her  former  misery. 
*•  This  is  but  harsh,  and  Reiske's  duirvoa,  la  verv  eleirant      Hn«»fnr 
E.n-ip,des  IS  very  fond  of  the  other  expression.      ^     ^  Honercr, 

Read  x<-  for  'y^i,  with  Canter,  Dindorf. 
I.  e.  a  stadium  =  a  furlong. 
•»  Strophius,  the  Phocian.    iraiStv/ta  ^  xoif 


905— 9 18. 


ELECTRA. 


61 


Or.  Speak,  if  thou  desirest,  sister ;  for  we  have  entered  upon 
enmity  with  this  person  upon  terms  that  admit  of  no  treaty. 

Elec.  (to  the  corpse  of  ^gisthus.)  Well  then,  what  be- 
ginning of  reproaches  shall  I  address  to  thee  ?  What  end? 
what  middle  discourse  shall  I  draw  out?  And  truly  from 
the  dawn  I  never  ceased  muttering  what  I  wished  to  eay  to 
tliy  face,  had  I  indeed  been  free  from  my  former  fears.  Now 
then  I  am  so ;  and  I  will  repay  thee  those  words  of  ill  which 
I  would  have  said  to  thee  living.  Thou  didst  destroy  me, 
and,  nought  injured,  didst  make  me  and  this  man  bereft  of 
a  dear  father,  and  didst  shamefully  marry  my  mother,  and 
murder  her  husband,  the  leader  of  the  Grecian  army,  not 
having  [thyself]  gone  against  the  Phrygians.  And  to  such 
Jin  exteut  of  folly  didst  thou  come,  that  thou  didst  hope  to 
find  my  mother  not  wicked  towards  thee,  but  thou  didst  in- 
jure my  father's  bed.  But  let  a  man  know,  when  after  hav- 
ing corrupted  a  man's  wife  with  secret  nuptials,  he  is  subse- 
quently compelled  to  take  her,  that  he  is  a  wretched  being,  if 
he  thinks  that  she  in  the  one  case  will  be  unmindful  of  chas- 
tity, but  will  be  mindful  of  it  with  him.  And  most  miserably 
didst  thou  live,  not  thinking  to  live  ill ;  for  thou  knewest  in- 
deed that  thou  hadst  made  an  unholy  marriage,  and  my 
njother  [knew]  that  she  in  thee  pos.sessed  an  impious  hus- 
band. But  being  an  evil  pair,  ye  obtained  your  fortune,  she 
thine  evil  one,  and  thou  hers.  And  among  all  the  Argives  thou 
didst  hear  such  woi-ds  as  these :  "  See  that  woman's  slave,"  not 
"  the  husband's  wife."  But  surely  this  is  base,  for  the  woman, 
not  the  man,  to  rule  the  household ;  and  I  loathe  those  chil- 
<lrcn,  who  are  named  in  the  city  not  from  the  male  sire,  but 
from  the  mother.  For  when  a  man  marries  a  conspicuous  and 
superior  match,  of  the  man  there  is  no  account,  but  of  the 
woman.  Which  thing  has  most  deceived  thee,  not  knowing 
it.  Thou  didst  boast  to  be  somebody,  relying  on  thy  wealth  ; 
but  wealth  is  nought,  except  to  tarry  with  us  for  a  little  time. 
But  nature  is  stable  ;  not  money:  since  the  one  ever  remain- 
ins  uplifts  her  head ;  but  wealth  unjust,  and  dwelling  with  the 
foolish,  is  wont  to  flit  from  the  house,  having  flourished  for  a 
short  season.  But  for  the  matters  regarding  women  I  am  silent: 
for  it  is  not  seemly  for  a  virgin  to  speak  [of  them],  nml 
knowinsly  I  will  but  hint.  Thou  didst  wanton,  as  possessing, 
forsooth,  a  regal  palace,  and  as  being  firm  in  beauty.  But  ma^ 


62 


ELKCTRA. 


949- 9S0 


iny  husband  be  be,  who  has  not  the  face  of  a  virgin,  but  of 
manly  manner.  For  their  children  depend  on  MarsT  but  mere 
prettiness  is  an  ornament  only  in  the  dance.  Perdition  seize 
thee,  ignorant  of  all ;  for  which,  in  time  detected,  thou  hast 
paid  the  penalty,  being  thus  an  evil-doer.  Let  not  a  man,  if 
he  run  the  first  course  well,  think  he  will  win  the  victory,  be- 
fore he  comes  nigh  the  line,  and  turns  the  end  of  life: 
^  Clio.  He  has  done  dreadful  deeds,  and  a  dreadful  retribu- 
tion has  he  paid  to  thee  and  this  man.  For  a  mighty  strength 
does  justice  possess.  ° 

Ok.  Be  it  so.  It  behoves  you,  servants,  to  bear  the  bo<ly 
of  this  man  within,  and  to  give  it  to  darkness,  that  when  my 
mother  comes,  she  may  not  see  the  corse  before  Ther  own! 
death.  *•  -" 

Elec.  Stop  !    Let  us  throw  ourselves  upon  another  topic. 
Or.  What  ?  dost  thou  see  auxiliary  troops  from  Mycenae  ? 
Elec.  No,  but  the  mother,  who  gave  me  birth. 
Or.  Opportunely  indeed,  she  comes  into  the  midst  of  the 
snare. 

Elec.  And  truly  she  is  brilliant  in  her  chariot  and  robes. 
Or.  What  then  shall  we  do  ?  shall  we  murder  our  mother  ? 
Elec.  Does  pity  possess  thee,  as  soon  as  thou  seest  thy 
mot  lier's  person  ? 

Or.  Alas !  for  liow  shall  I  slay  her,  who  bore  and  nourish- 
I'd  me  ? 

Elec.  Like  as  she  destroyed  thy  sire  and  mine. 
Or.  O  Phoebus,  much  folly  indeed  hast  thou  prophesied — 
Elec.  But  where  Apollo  is  foolish,  who  are  wise  ? 
Or.  Who  hast  bidden  me  to  slay  my  mother,  whom  it  i? 
not  fitting. 

Elec.  But  in  what  art  thou  harmed,  avenging  thy  father? 
Or.  Haying  beea  then^^  py^e,  I  shall  now  be  accused  of 
my  mother's  murder. 

Elec.  Ay,  and  not  avenging  thy  father,  thou  wilt  be  im- 
pious. 

Or.  But  I  shall  pay  to  my  mother  the  penalty  of  death. 
Elec.    But  to  whom,  on  the  other  hand,  shouldst   thou 
abandon  the  avenging  of  thy  sire  ? 

O.i.   Did  not  sonic  demon,  likened  to  the  God.  enjoin  that  ? 
Elec.  What,  sitting  on  the  sacred  tripod?  I  opine  not. 
"  Vu.  Avhen  I  was  ordered  to  &la^'  lici. 


931-1022. 


ELECTRA. 


63 


Or.  I  cannot  be  persuaded  that  this  was  a  genuine  response. 

Elec.  Thou  shalt  not  through  cowardice  fall  into  unman- 
liness. 

Or.  Shall  I  then  contrive  the  same  artifice  against  her? 

ELec.  Ay,  by  which  thou  also  didst  destroy  her  husband 
.£gisthus,  having  slain  him. 

Or.  I  will  enter  in;  but  I  am  beginning  a  dreadful  at- 
tempt. Ay,  and  I  shall  do  dreadful  things ;  but  if  this  seems 
fit  to  the  Gods,  let  it  be ;  but  the  contest  is  for  me  [at  once] 
bitter  and  sweet. . 

Cho.  Ho  !  thou  royal  lady  of  the  land  of  Argos,  daughter 
of  Tyndarus,  and  sister  of  the  twin  noble  sons  of  Jove,  who 
inhabit  the  flaming  ether,  amid  the  stars,  having  honours  from 
mortals  as  protectors  amidst  the  waves  of  the  sea.  Hail  I  I 
reverence  you  equally  with  the  Gods,  because  of  your  wealth 
and  great  happiness.  And  it  is  now  the  season  for  thy  for- 
tunes, 0  queen,  to  be  respected  by  all. 

Cly.  Descend  from  the  chariot,  ye  Trojan  damsels,  and  lay 
hold  of  my  hand,  that  I  may  place  my  foot  outside  this  car. 
For  the  houses  indeed  of  the  Gods  are  adorned  with  Phrygian 
spoils  ;  but  I  possess  in  my  house  these,  chosen  from  the  Trojan 
land,  in  place  of  the  daughter  whom  I  lost,  a  small  but  hon- 
ourable gift. 

Elec.  Shall  I  not  then,  O  mother,  (for  I  am  a  slave  cast  out 
of  my  ancestral  home  and  inhabit  an  unhappy  dwelling,)  take 
hold  of  thy  happy  hand  ? 

Clt.  These  slaves  are  present.   Do  not  thou  labour  for  me  ? 

Elec.  What,  hast  thou  not  dislodged  me,  in  truth,  as  a  slave 
from  the  house  ?  for  when  mine  house  was  taken,  I  was  taken, 
like  as  these  women,  being  left  destitute  of  a  father. 

Cly.  Such  plans  indeed  did  thy  sire  devise  against  those 
friends  against  whom  it  least  behoved  him.  But  I  will  speak, 
although,  when  a  wrong  opinion  possesses  a  woman,  there  is 
a  certain  bitterness  upon  her  tongue,  (as  indeed  is  the  case 
with  us,)  not  fitly  indeed ;  but  it  is  just  that  we  hate,  when  we 
have  learnt  the  matter,  if  indeed  one  has  right  grounds  for 
hating.  But  if  not,  why  should  one  hate?  Now  Tyndarus 
bestowed  me  on  thy  sire,  not  that  I  nor  my  children  should 
perish.  But  that  man.  having  persuaded  my  daughter  by  the 
[pretended]  nuptials  of  Achilles,  went  from  home  leading  her 
Xfom  the  ihip-receiving  Aulis,  where  stretching  her  above  the 


1 


64 


ELECTRA. 


1023-1060. 


pile,  he  cut  through  the  fair  cheek  of  Iphigenia.  Now  if,  to  pre- 
vent the  capture  of  a  city,  or  to  benefit  his  house,  and  save  his 
other  children,  he  had  slain  one  on  behalf  of  many,  it  would 
have  been  pardonable ;  but  now  because  Helen  was  a  wanton, 
and  he  who  had  recovered  her  knew  not  how  to  chastise  a  trai- 
torous wife,  on  this  account  he  (Agamemnon)  destroyed  my 
child.     At  this,  then,  although  injured,  I  was  not  tendered 
savage,  nor  would  I  have  slain  my  husband.     But  he  came  to 
me  bringing  a  raving  God-possessed  girl,  and  introduced  her 
to  his  bed,  and  would  have  had  two  wives  at  once  in  the  same 
dwelling.     Now  women  are  foolish,  I  will  not  deny  it ;  but 
when  this  being  the  case,  a  husband  errs,  by  neglecting  the 
bed  in  his  home,  a  wife  is  wont  to  imitate  her  husband^  and 
possess  another  love.     And  then  the  blame  shines  forth  upon 
us  ;  but  the  men,  who  are  the  cause  of  this,  are  in  no  bad  re- 
pute.    But  if  Menelaus  had  been  privily  carried  off  from 
home,  must  I  needs  have  slain  Orestes,  that  I  might  pre- 
serve Menelaus  my  sister'*  husband  ?     And  how  would  thy 
sire  have  tolerated  this  ?     Was  it  then  right  that  he  indeed 
should  not  die,  having  slain  my  [children],  but  that  I  should 
suffer  at  his  hands  ?     I  slew  him ;  I  turned  myself  the  way 
that  lay  open  to  his  enemies.     For  who  of  your  father's 
friends  would  have  shared  the  deed  with  me  ?     Say,  if  thou 
desirest  aught,  and  lay  down  with  freedom,  on  the  other  side, 
that  thy  father  died  not  justly. 

Elec.  Thou  hast  spoken  justly ;  but  even  justice  has  some- 
thing of  disgrace;  for  it  behoves  a  woman  who  is  in  her 
senses  to  yield  to  her  husband  in  all  things.  But  if  this  seems 
not  so,  neither  does  it  come  into  the  account  of  my  words. 
Remember,  mother,  the  last  words  thou  didst  say,  in  permit- 
ting me  to  speak  to  thee  with  freedom. 

Clt.  Ay,  and  I  say  so  now,  and  deny  not,  child. 
Elec.  But  wilt  thou,  O  mother,  treat  me  ill,  when  thou 
hast  heard  ? 

Clt.  Not  so ;  but  I  will  add  what  is  pleasant  to  thy  feelings. 

Elec.  I  will  speak  then ;  and  this  is  the  beginning  of  my 
prelude.  Would  that,  O  mother,  thou  hadst  possessed  a  \7iser 
mind.  For  the  form  indeed  both  of  Helen  and  thee  is  worthy 
to  bear  commendation ;  but  ye  were  born  twin  sisters,  both 
wanton,  and  not  worthy  of  Castor.  For  she  indeed  being 
carried  off,  willingly  was  lost  j  but  thou  hast  destroyed  tb? 


10G6-1110. 


ELECTRA. 


65 


best  man  of  Greece,  alleging  a  pretence,  that  thou  didst  slay  thy 
husband  on  thy  child's  account  (for  they  know  not  well  the  facts, 
as  I  do) ;  thou  who,  before  the  "sacrifice  of  thy  daughter  was 
completed,  and  when  thy  husband  had  but  lately  set  out  from 
home,  didst  adorn  the  auburn  tresses  of  thine  hair  before  a  mir- 
ror. But  a  woman  who,  while  her  husband  is  absent  from  home, 
decks  herself  out  for  beauty,  writes  herself  down  as  evil   For 
it  behoves  her  to  show  not  at  all  her  fair  face  out  of  doors, 
unless  she  is  seeking  some  wickedness.    But  I  know  that  thou 
alone  of  all  the  Grecian  women  didst  rejoice,  if  the  Trojan 
affairs  prospered ;  but,  if  they  had  the  worst,  that  thou  didst 
wear  a  clouded  look,  not  wishing  Agamemnon  to  return  from 
Troy.     And  yet  there  were  good  reasons  for  thee  to  be  chaste. 
Thou  hadst  a  husband  not  worse  than  ^gisthus,  whom  Greece 
chose  for  her  general ;  and  when  thy  sister  Helen  had  done 
such  deeds,  it  was  in  thy  power  to  obtain  great  renown ;  for 
evil  deeds  furnish  an  example  and  contemplation  to  the  good. 
But  if,  as  thou  sayest,  my  father  slew  thy  daughter,  how  have 
I  and  my  brother  injured  thee?    Why  then  didst  thou  not, 
having  slain  thy  husband,  unite  to  us  ancestral  houses?  but 
thou  carried  off  stranger  nuptials,  purchasing  a  husband  for 
hire.     And  neither  is  thy  husband  (^gisthus)  banished  on 
account  of  thy  son  (Orestes),  nor  is  he  dead  on  my  account, 
twice  having  slain  me  on  account  of  my  sister  (Iphigenia)  ? 
But  if  slaughter  shall  requite  slaughter,  I  and  thy  son  Orestes 
must  slay  thee,  avenging  our  father.     For  if  those  deeds  were 
just,   these  are  "just  likewise.      But  whosoever,  looking  to 
wealth  or  nobility,  marries  a  wicked  woman,  is  a  fool ;  for  an 
humble,  yet  modest  partner  is  better  in  one's  house,  than  a 

powerful  one. 

Cho.  There  is  a  fatality  in  the  nuptials  of  women ;  for  I 
perceive  that  among  mortals  some  marriages  fall  out  well,  some 

not  well. 

Clt.  O  daughter,  thou  wert  bom  to  love  ever  thy  sire.  And 
this  is  the  case :  some  side  with  the  males ;  but  others  love 
their  mother  rather  than  their  father.  1  will  pardon  thee ; 
for  in  truth,  my  child,  I  do  not  so  very  much  rejoice  in  what 
I  have  done.  But  thus  unwashed,  and  with  thy  form  thus 
badly  clothed,  hast  thou  just  ceased  from  thy  throes  in  child- 
birth? Alas!  wretched  me  for  my  devices;  how  have  I 
stirred  my  husband  to  wrath  more  than  was  fitting ! 


06 


ELECTRA. 


1111-1138. 


Elec.  Thou  mournest  late,  when  thou  hast  no  remedy. 
My  father  is  dead ;  but  why  dost  thou  not  recall  thy  son  who 
IS  wandering  out  of  this  land  ? 

Clt.  I  have  a  fear,  and  consider  my  own  interests,  noj  his. 
For  he  is  angered,  as  they  say,  at  the  death  of  his  father. 

Elec.  Why  then  dost  thou  keep  thy  husband  furious 
against  us  ? 

Clt.  Such  are  his  manners ;  and  thou  also  art  self-willed. 

Elec.  For  I  am  pained ;  but  I  will  cease  being  wrath. 

Clt.  And  truly  he  shall  no  longer  be  harsh  to  thee. 

Elec.  He  is  very  proud,  for  he  dwells  in  my  house. 

Cly.  Dost  thou  see  ?  Thou  art  again  fanning  new  quarrels. 

Elec.  I  will  be  silent,  for  I  fear  him,  as  I  fear  him.«< 

Clt.  Cease  from  these  words.  But  wherefore  didst  thou 
call  me,  child? 

Elec.  Thou  hast  heard,  I  suppose,  of  my  being  brought  to 
bed.  On  this  account  do  thou  offer  sacrifice  for  me,  (for  I 
know  not  how,)  on  the  tenth  day  of  the  month  from  the 
child's  birth,"  as  is  the  custom.  For  I  am  not  experienced, 
being  hitherto  childless. 

Clt.  This  is  the  task  of  another,  who  has  acted  as 
midwife. 

Elec.  I  myself  was  my  midwife,  and  alone  brought  forth 
an  infant. 

Clt.  Dost  thou  inhabit^a  home  so  neighbourless  of  friends  ? 

Elec.  No  one  desires  to  possess  the  poor  as  friends. 

Clt.  But  I  will  go,  that  I  may  sacrifice  for  the  accom- 
plished number  of  the  child's  [days]  ;  but  after  I  have  done 
this  favour  for  thee,  I  will  go  to  the  field  where  my  husband 
is  offering  sacrifices  to  the  Nymphs.  But  ye,  attendants,  lead- 
ing these  harnessed  steeds,  place  them  in  the  stalls ;  but  when 
ye  think  that  I  am  released  from  this  sacrifice  to  the  Gods,  be 
at  hand ;  for  it  behoves  me  also  to  do  favour  to  my  husband. 

•«  Alluding  to  his  death.    Woodhull : 

*•  For  I  dread  him,  as  far  as  there  is  cause 
To  dread  iEgisthus." 

•*  Cf.  Aristoph.  Av.  494,  if  itKartjv  yap  trort  vaiSapiov  cXi^Ottc  wW- 
irivov  Iv  dffTtt,  where  the  Scholiast  remarks  that  the  birth-day  festival 
and  the  naming  of  the  child  was  celebrated  on  the  tenth,  by  others,  on 
the  seventh  day  after  birth.  Among  the  Romans  the  lustration-day  was 
the  eighth  for  girls,  the  ninth  for  boys.     Lomeibr  de  Lustrat  {  27, 


ll2d-llS.5. 


ELEC  IRA. 


67 


Elec.  Enter  into  our  poor  abode ;  but  take  care  lest  the 
smoky  roof  discolour  thy  robes,  for  tliou  shalt  make  such  a 
sacrifice  to  the  Gods  as  behoves  thee.  {ClytcBmncstra  goes  in.) 
For  the  canister  is  ready,  and  the  kniie  whetted,  which  lias 
already  destroyed  the  bull,  near  whom  thou  stricken  shalt 
fall.  And  even  in  the  house  of  Hades  thou  shalt  be  united 
to  him  with  whom  thou  didst  sleep  during  life.  So  great  a 
favour  will  I  bestow  on  thee ;  and  thou  on  me  an  atonement 
for  my  father. 

Cho.  a  requital  for  evils,  changed  gales  for  the  house 
are  blowing.  Then  indeed  in  the  bath  my  lord,  my  lord  fell, 
and  the  house  shrieked,  and  the  stone-pinnacles  of  the  house, 
as  he  spake  thus :  "  O  wretched  woman,  why  dost  thou  slay 
me  returning  to  my  dear  country  after  ten  corn-seasons?" 
But  a  changing  tide  of  justice  secretly  leads  on  this  woman, 
wretched  on  account  of  her  changed  bed ;  who  having  taken 
an  axe  in  her  hands,  slew  with  the  sharp-whetted  blade  by 
her  own  hand  her  wretched  husband,  returning  after  a  long 
season  to  his  house  and  the  Cyclopeian  sky-capping  walls. 
A  wretched  husband,  in  that  he  had  a  wretched  woman  for  a 
bane !  Like  as  a  mountain  lioness,  pasturing  amidst  the  oak- 
thickets  of  the  woods,  she  wrought  these  deeds. 

Cly.  O  children,  by  the  Gods,  slay  not  your  mother. 

Cho.  Dost  thou  hear  the  noise  beneath  the  roof  ? 

Cly.  Alas  !  for  me,  for  me  ! 

Cho.  I  also  bewail  her  murdered  by  her  children.  In 
truth  the  deity  regulates  justice,  when  there  is  a  chance. 
Wretchedly  hast  thou  suffered ;  but  impious  deeds  hast  thou 
done  to  thy  husband,  unhappy  one.  But  hither  these  direct 
tUeir  foot  from  the  house,  defiled  with  the  new-shed  blood  oi 
their  mother,  terrible  evidences  of  her  hapless  addresses  [to 
them].  There  is  not,  nor  ever  was  a  house  more  wretched 
than  that  of  the  descendants  of  Tantalus. 

Or.  O  earth  and  Jove,  that  surveyest  all  mortal  things, 
behold  these  bloody,  horrid  deeds,  two  bodies  prostrate  on  the 
ground,  by  a  blow  from  my  hand,  a  requital  of  mine  ills. 

Elec.  Mournful  matters  indeed,  O  brother,  but  I  am  the 
cause.  Through  fire  I  have  wretched  gone  against  this  my 
mother,  who  gave  me,  her  daughter,  birth.  Alas !  for  thy 
fortune,  thy  fortune,  O  mother  that  didst  give  me  birth ;  thou 
that  hast  suffered  accursed  things,  wretched  and  more  than 


68 


ELECTRA. 


1186-1237. 


1238-1286. 


ELECTRA. 


69 


[wretched],  at  the  hands  of  thy  children.     But  justly  hast 
thou  at'^ved  for  my  father's  murder. 

Ok.  Alas!  Phoebus,  thou  didst  enjoin  justice;  thou  hast 
wrought  publicly  griefs  not  to  be  told,  and  hast  given  bloody 
nuptials  from  Greece.  But  to  what  other  city  can  I  go? 
What  host,  what  pious  friend  will  look  upon  the  face  of  me 
a  matricide? 

Elec.  Alas  !  alas  for  me  !  And  whither  shall  I  ?  to  what 
dance,  to  what  nuptials,  shall  I  go?  What  husband  will  re- 
ceive me  to  a  bridal  bed  ? 

Or.  Again,  again  has  thy  disposition  changed  [with  the 
gale];«6  for  thou  now  hast  pious  thoughts,  not  having  them 
tlien;  but  thou,  O  dear  one,  hast  done  dreadful  things  to- 
wards thy  unwilling  brother.  Didst  thou  see  how  the 
wretched  woman  threw  aside  her  robes,  and  showed  her 
bosom  during  the  slaughter,  alas !  for  me,  bending  her  knees 
to  the  earth  ?     But  I  was  like  to  faint." 

Elec.  I  well  know  thou  wast  in  grief,  hearing  the  piteous 
groan  of  the  mother  who  bore  thee. 

Or.  And  she  uttered  such  a  cry  as  this,  placing  her  hand 
on  my  beard,  «  My  child,  I  beseech  thee ;"  and  she  hung  upon 
my  cheeks,  so  that  the  sword  fell  from  my  hands. 

Clio.  Oh !  wretched  one,  how  hast  thou  had  the  heart  to 
behold  in  thy  sight  the  slaughter  of  thy  mother  breathing  her 
last  ? 

Or.  I  indeed  casting  my  robes  upon  mine  eyes,  began  [the 
slaughter]  with  my  sword,  driving  it  into  my  mother's  neck. 

Elec.  And  I  indeed  encouraged  thee  ;  and  at  the  same 
time  laid  hands  on  the  sword.  You  have  done^  the  most 
dreadful  of  deeds. 

Or.  Take  hold,  take  hold,  cover  the  limbs  of  my  mother 
with  garments,  close  up  her  wounds.  Murderers  in  truth 
didst  thou  give  birth  to  for  thyself. 

Elec.  See,  thee  a  friend,  yet  not  a  friend,  we  cover  with 
garments,  a  finish  of  the  great  ills  in  the  house, 

Cno.  But  hither  above  the  summit  of  the  house  appear 
some  demons,  or  of  the  heavenly  Gods ;  for  this  is  no  path  for 
mortals.     Why  come  they  into  the  clear  sight  of  mortals?      ' 

"•  Dindorf  would  omit  Trpof  avpav. 

•*  raKOfiav  for  rdv  KOfiav.     Seidl.     Dind. 

"But  Seidler  reads  ipi^a. 


Castor  and  Pollux,  {appearing.^  O  son  of  Agamemnon, 
listen ;  for  the  twin  brothers  of  thy  mother,  i^.v  son"^  o'"  Jove, 
call  upon  thee.  Castor,  and  this  his  brother  Poliux.  But 
having  lately  appeased  a  terrible  storm  of  the  ocean,  we  have 
come  to  Argos,  when  we  saw  the  slaughter  of  this  our  sister, 
thy  mother.  She  then  has  what  was  just,  but  thou  dost  not  so ; 
and  Phoebus,  Phoebus — but  I  will  be  silent,  for  he  is  my  king 
— but  being  wise,  he  prophesied  to  thee  things  not  wise.  But 
we  must  needs  acquiesce  in  this.  But  henceforth  it  behoves 
thee  to  perform  what  Fate  and  Jove  have  decreed  concerning 
thee.  On  Pylades,  indeed,  bestow  Electra  as  a  wife  for  his 
liouse ;  but  do  thou  leave  Argos,  for  it  is  not  for  thee  to  tread 
this  land,  having  slain  thy  mother.  But  the  dreadful  Furies, 
the  dog-visaged  Goddesses,  will  drive  thee  maddened  to  roam 
astray.  And  when  thou  shalt  arrive  at  Athens,  embrace  the 
hallowed  image  of  Minerva ;  for  she  will  drive  them  off,  ter- 
rified by  her  terrible  dragons,  so  as  not  to  touch  thee,  stretch- 
ing forth  the  Gorgon-faced  circle  over  thine  head.  Now  there 
is  a  certain  hill  of  Mars,  where  the  Gods  first  sate  in  vote 
concerning  blood,  when  savage  Mars,  in  wrath  for  the  impious 
nuptials  of  his  daughter,''^  slew  Halirrothius,  the  son  of  the 
ruler  of  the  ocean,  where  from  that  [time]  there  is  a  most 
pious  and  firm  judgment  for  the  Gods.  Here  it  behoves  thee 
also  to, run  the  gauntlet  concerning  murder.  But  votes  being 
placed  equal  will  preserve  thee  from  dying  by  justice ;  for 
Loxias  will  take  the  blame  upon  himself,  having  commanded 
the  murder  of  your  mother.  And  to  those  hereafter  this  law 
shall  be  fixed,  that  the  defendant  shall  always  escape  by  equal 
votes.  The  fearful  Goddesses  indeed,  stricken  with  this  vex- 
ation, will  sink  into  a  chasm  of  the  earth  near  the  hill  itself,  a 
sacred  pious  oracle  [hereafter]  for  mortals.  But  thee  it  be- 
hoves to  dwell  in  a  city'°  on  the  streams  o'  Alpheus,  near  the 
Lycaean  enclosure;  and  the  city  shall  be  called  after  thy 
name.  To  thee  indeed  I  have  thus  spoken ;  but  this  corse 
of  -/Egisthus  the  citizens  of  Argos  shall  conceal  in  a  tomb 
of  earth.  But  Menelaus,  who  has  just  arrived  at  Nauplia,  smce 
he  has  conquered  the  Trojan  land,  and  Helen,  will  bury  thy 

••  Alcippe.  the  daughter  of  Mars,  was  violated  by  Hahrrothius.  Cf. 
Apollod.  HI.  13.     See  Meurs.  Areop.  §  10,  p  85  sq. 

'•  Cf.  OreRt.  1645  sqq.  It  was  before  called  'A^avia,  and  formed  ft 
district  of  Arcadia,  Pausan.  viu.  4.  Steph.  Byz.  s.  v. 


70 


ELECTRA. 


t  ! 


12S1-1322. 


mother.  For  [Helen]  is  come  from  the  house  of  Proteus,  havin'^ 
left  Egypt ;  nor  did  she  go  to  the  Phrygians.  But  Jove,  in 
oi*der  that  strife  and  slaughter  of  mortals  might  arise,  sent  au 
image  of  Helen  to  Troy.  Let  Py lades  then,  having  this  dam- 
sel as  his  wife,  return  to  his  home  in  the  Achaian  land,  and 
bear  him  who  is  nominally  thy  brother-in-law''  into  the  land 
of  the  Phocians,  and  give  him  weight  of  wealth.  But  do  thou, 
passing  with  thy  foot  over  the  neck  of  the  Isthmian  land,  go 
towards  the  prosperous  house  of  Cecropia ;  for  having  ful- 
filled thy  destined  fate  [resulting]  from  this  murder,  thou 
wilt  be  happy,  being  freed  from  these  ills. 

Cho.  O  sons  of  Jove,  is  it  lawful  for  us  to  approach  thy 
converse  ? 

Cas.  and  Pol.  It  is  lawful,  for  those  not  polluted  by  these 
murders. 

Or.  And  may  I  share  in  speech,  sons  of  Tyndarus  ? 

Cas.  and  Pol.  Thou  mayest.  I  will  lay  this  deed  of  blood 
upon  Phoebus. 

Cho.  How,  being  Gods  and  brothers  of  this  woman  who 
hast  perished,  did  ye  not  avert  the  calamities  from  these 
houses  ? 

Cas.  and  Pol.  Destiny  of  necessity  led  on  her  fate,  and 
the  unwise  words  of  the  tongue  of  Phoebus. 

Elec.  But  what  Apollo  [compelled]  me?  What  oracles 
pronounced  that  I  should  be  the  murderess  of  my  mother  ? 

Cas.  and  Pol.  Common  was  the  deed,  and  common  the 
fate ;  and  one  curse  of  your  sires  has  harassed  both. 

Or.  O  sister  mine,  seeing  thee  after  a  long  time,  I  am  im- 
mediately deprived  of  thine  endearments,  and,  left  by  thee,  I 
leave  thee. 

Cas.  and  Pol.  She  has  a  husband  and  home.  She  has 
not  suffered  things  to  be  pitied,  save  that  she  leaves  her 
Argive  city. 

Or.  And  what  other  greater  cause  is  there  for  groaning, 
than  to  leave  the  boundaries  of  one's  country  ?  But  I  shall  go 
out  from  my  father's  house,  and  undergo  the  charge  of  mur- 
der of  my  mother  at  the  votes  of  others. 

Cas.  and  Pol.  Be  of  good  cheer.  Thou  wilt  come  to  the 
holy  city  of  Pallas.     But  bear  up. 

£l£C.  Join  thy  breast  to  my  breast,  O  dearest  brother  j  for 
''  Meaning  the  old  peaMSt. 


^ 


1323-13.59. 


ELfiCtaA. 


n 


the  bloody  curses  of  our  mother  disjoin  us  from  our  ancestral 
home. 

Or.  Throw  thy  body  closely,  hug  me ;  and  weep,  as  on  the 
tomb  of  me  dead. 

Cas.  and  Pol.  Alas !  alas !  thou  hast  uttered  this  a  tern- 
ble  thing  even  for  Gods  to  hear.  For  in  me  and  in  the  in- 
habitants of  heaven  there  is  pity  for  much-toiling  mortals. 

Or.  No  more  shall  I  behold  thee. 

Elec.  Nor  shall  I  approach  thine  eye. 

Or.  This  is  my  last  address  to  thee. 

Elec.  O  fare  thee  well,  city,  and  fare  ye  well,  and  greatly 
well,  my  female  citizens. 

Or.  O  most  faithful  sister,  art  thou  now  on  th}'  way  ? 

Elec.  I  am  on  my  way,  bedewing  my  tender  cheek. 

Or.  Pylades,  go  rejoicing,  wed  the  form  of  Elect ra. 

Cas.  and  Pol.  The  marriage  shall  be  their  care ;  but  do 
thou,  fleeing  from  these  dogs,^^  wend  thy  way  to  Athens,  for 
with  their  snaky  hands,  these  black-skinned  [Furies],  fraught 
with  the  fruit  of  dreadful  woes,  cast  their  dread  footstep  upon 
thee.  But  we  [hie]  to  the  Sicilian  Sea  in  haste,  to  save  tho 
marine  prows  of  ships.  And  passing  through  the  ethereal 
plain,  the  wicked  indeed  we  aid  not ;  but  to  whom  holiness 
and  justice  is  dear  in  their  life,  these  we  preserve,  releasing 
them  from  heavy  toils.  Thus  let  no  one  be  willing  to  act  un- 
justly, nor  let  him  sail  together  with  the  perjured.  I,  a  God, 
proclaim  this  to  mortals. 

Cho.  Farewell ;  but  whosoever  of  mortals  is  able  to  fare 
well,  and  bends  not  under  some  misfortune,  fares  happily. 

"  The  Fmries  appear. 


A    New 
New    Testament 

The  ever-growing  interest  in  New  Testament  subjects 

— so  generally  and  so  intelligently  discussed  now-a-days — 

makes   it   desirable  that  the  general  reader,  who  would 

be  well  informed  on  current  topics,  should   have   some 

aquaintance   with   the   relation  of  the  standard  English 

version  to  the  original  text,  while  a  still  more  intimate 

knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  clergyman  and  the  Bible 

Class  teacher  would  seem  almost  imperative.      Toward 

this  end  no  aid  is  likely  to   be   more   helpful    than    the 

Interlinear  New  Testament. 

There  are  many  other  reasons,  scarcely  needing  mention,  why  the 
Interlinear  New  Testament  should  be  at  the  elbow  of  every  intelligent 

f)erson  who  either  is  or  hopes  to  be  posted  on  general  topics.  Not  the 
east  of  these  reasons  is  the  facility  with  which  it  enables  one,  even  if 
rusty  in  his  Greek,  or  even  if  wholly  unacquainted  with  Greek,  to  put 
his  finger  on  the  original  Greek  word  or  phrase,  and  at  the  same 
instant    upon    an    absolutely    literal    rendering.      To    many    it    will 

f)romptly  repay  its  cost  in  the  time  saved  from  turning  to  a  Greek 
exicon. 

The  Interlinear  New  Testament  will  be  needed  by  every  clergy- 
man, Sunday  School  superintendent,  and  Bible-Class  teacher,  as  well 
as  by  many  students  of  Greek  in  Schools  and  Colleges,  by  most 
intelligent  people  who  wish  their  library  complete,  and  by  everyone 
who  studies  the  Scriptures  ;  and  for  every  reference  library.  Of 
course,  no  working  library  is  complete  without  such  a  book. 

The     Greek  -  English     In- 
terlinear  New   Testament 


Edition  Without  Notes  688  pages,  containing  simply  the 
Greek  text  with  the  interlinear  translation.  Cloth,  uniform 
with  our  Interlinear  Translations  of  Caesar,  Cicero,  Virgil, 
Xenophon,  Homer  and  other  Latin  and  Greek  classic 
writers  (Classic  Series)        ------ 

Larger  Edition.  With  Footnotes.  And  with  the  standard 
English  version  arranged  in  the  margin  of  each  page  in  a 
column  parallel  with  the  interlinear  page,  and  furnishing  an 
ideal  New  Testament  in  every  respect.  This  larger  edition 
in  three  styles : 

V         Plain  Cloth 


$1.50 


Half  Leather  - 
Divinity  Circuit, 


gold   edge,  round 


corners    - 


3.00 
4.00 

5.00 


PUBLISHED    BY 


ARTHUR  HINDS  4  CO.,  4  Cooper  Institute,  H.  Y.  City 


jt<ecitaoe<a  rrom  Tb  ets;  to  SO  ct®. 

Postage  5  cts,  extra. 


3Sroo??8*  Ibistoria  Sacra* 

Bevised,  with  Lescicon. 

This  Jnstly  popular  volume,  besides  the  Epitome  Histonae 
SacH?,  the  Notes,  and  the  Lexicon,  contains  100  pages  of 
elementary  Latin  Lessons  So  arranged  as  to  form  a  practical 
course  in  Latin  for  the  beginner,  making  it  practicable  for  the 
teacher,  without  recourse  to  any  other  book,  to  carry  the  pupil 
quickly  and  in  easy  steps,  Over  the  ground  preparatory  to  a 
profitaDle  reading  of  the  epitome  Historiae  Sacrge.  Dr. 
Brooks'  wide  reputation  as  a  teacher  of  the  classics  is  our  besi. 
testimonial  to  the  value  of  this  book,  which  has  been  con- 
structed t/n  the  lines  employed  by  bim  daily  with  his  classes 
oeginnin^  Latin. 

Fron^  the  Preface. — Regarding  the  Bible  as  the  comer- 
((tone  of  our  civil  and  religious  liberties,  I  consider  it  the  duty  of  every 
philanthropist  and  Christian  engaged  in  the  great  work  of  training 
American  yoath,  to  sar._tify  all  instruction,  as  far  as  practicable,  by  the 
truths  ot  the  inspired  Volume. 

With  tti^jt  sentiments,  I  have  always  preferred  the  Historia  Sacra 
to  any  other  elementary  book  of  its  class  now  in  use  in  our  schools.  Its 
^mplicity  is  we:,l  adapted  to  the  youthful  beginner,  its  interesting  narra- 
live  calculated  tJ  engage  his  attention,  while  its  sublime  morality  cannot 
fail  to  affect  the  heart. 

With  the  view  of  rendering  it  more  acceptable  to  the  pubhc,  I  have 
tfade,  in  this  edition,  a  new  and  convenient  arrangement  of  its  contents, 
and  illustrated  it  with  notes,  and  a  new  Dictionary,  together  with 
suitable  preparatory  Latin  Lessons,  and  commend  it  to  the  notice  of  thos* 
engaged  in  Xx  aching  the  elements  of  the  Laf  in  Language. — N,  C.  Brooks*. 


f*ed%ued  from  yj  cts.  to  ^o  cts, — Postage  extra  ^  ct9 


&RTHUR  HINDS  k  CO..  4  Cooper  Institute,  N.  I.  CiQ^ 


Dr.  Brooks'  iKide  ref>utntion  as  a  teacher  of  ike  Classics 
MS  our  best  testimonial  to  the  value  of  these  works,  which  hai'e 
been  constructed  on  the  lines  evtployed  by  him  daily  with  his 
classes. 

Brooks'  Classics 

Historia  Sacra.  Revised,  with  Vocabulary.  $o  cents 
(postacfe  5  cts.  extra).  This  justly  popular'  volume 
besides  the  Epitome  Historise  Sacrse,  the  Notes,  and  tlit 
Lexicon,  contains  lOd  pages  of  elementary  Latin  Lesson r 
so  arranged  as  to  form  a  practical  course  in  Latin  foi 
the  beginner,  making  it  practicable  for  the  teacher,  with- 
out recourse  to  any  other  book,  to  carry  the  pupil 
quickly  and  in  easy  steps,  over  tlie  ground  preparatory 
to  a  profitable  reading  of  the  epitome  Historiae  Sacrae. 

Csesar's  Gallic  War,  with  Lexi  on.  Illustrated  and 
Revised  Edition.  English  Notes,  Critical  and  Explana- 
tory. Illustrated  by  Maps,  Views  and  Plans  of  the 
Battles.  Price  reduced  from  $1.50  to  $1.20  (post- 
age 12  cts.  extra). 

Brooks'  Caesar,  Ovid,  Virgil,  and  other  works,  have 
placed  him  side  by  side  with  tho  furemost  laborers  in  the 
classic  field.'' — Methodist  Quarterly  Review. 

Virgil's  iCneid,  with  Lexicon.  Illustrated  and  Revised 
Edition.  Notes,  Criiical,  Historical  and  Mythological. 
Metrical  Index  and  Map.  and  numerous  engravings  of 
Antique  Statues,  Arms,  Gems,  Coins  and  Medals.  Also 
Questions  for  Examinations.  Price  reduced  from 
$1.75  to  $1.50  (postage  12  cts.  extra). 

Says  Dr.  Shkiton  Mackenzie  :— "  It  is  the  most  beautiful 
edition  ot  Virgil's  /Ent  id  yet  published.  As  an  i  luh- 
tratcd  school  book  it  has  never  been  even  approached.' 

Ovid's  Metamorphoses,  w  th  Lexicon.  Illustrated  and 
Revised  Edition.  Expurgated  and  adapted  for  Mixed 
Classes.  Elucidated  by  an  Analysis  and  Explanation  of 
each  Table.  With  English  Notes,  Historical,  Mythologi- 
cal and  Critical,  and  Questions  for  Examinations. 
Price  reduced  from  $2.00  to  $1.50  (postage  15  cts. 
extra). 

Says  Dr.  Newell  :— "  It  bears  the  impres«;  alike  of  the  pc- 
curate  scholar  and  the  experienced  teacher.  He  has 
added  a  body  of  explanatory  notes,  which  for  lullne'S, 
variety  and  appropriateness,  will  comp.ire  with  any 
similar  work,  and  gain  by  the  comparison." 


^v!b  8  ^etamotpboses 
with  Xeyicon 


BY 


NATHAN  COVINGTON  BROOKS.  Ph.D.,  LL.D. 


Half  Morocco,  $1.50,  reduced  from.  $2.00 

Postage  tji  cents 


Revised  and  Illustrated  Edition.  Expurgated  and  adapted 
for  Mixed  Classes.  Elucidated  by  an  Analysis  and  Explana* 
tion  ot  each  Fable,  With  English  Foot  Notes  and  Marginal 
Notes,  Historical,  Mythological  and  Critical,  and  Questions 
ior  Examinations,  and  a  copious  Dictionary  giving  the  meaning 
Ot  ^.  4)e  words  with  critical  exactness. 


ftrthnr  Hinds  &  Co..  4  Cooper  Institute,  New  York. 


Arthur    Hinds    &    Company 
^  Cooper   Institutoi      ^      New  York  City 


1! 


11(1' 


t¥ote  thtse  daiei. 


irooh'  ©rtd's  Hftamorplioscs. 


Oarefally  adapted  for  Mixed  Glasses. 


E.  B.  Lease,  Professor  of  Latin  and  Greek,  Universih 
*f  the  Pacific,  San  Jose^  Cal.  :  I  have  examined  Brooks 
*'Ovid"  with  pleasure.  Dr.  Brooks  has  done  his  work  well 
Of  school  editions  it  is /d!rz7<?//-/«f<!'/j.  {May  ^^  1891.) 

W.  E.  Castle,  Prof,  of  Latin,  Ottawa  University,  Ottawa,. 
Kansas  :  Our  text  books  are  seldom  put  up  in  such  an  at- 
tractive and  durable  form.  {Afl.  28,  1891.) 

F.  M.  Dowling,  Prof  of  Latin,  Bethany  College,  Bethany, 
W.  Va.  :  I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  a  short  time  ago  a 
copy  of  your  Brooks'  "Ovid."  In  everything  that  goes  to 
make  up  a  good  text  book,  I  consider  it  far  superior  to  anything 
I  have  examined.  It  is  my  present  intention  to  introduce  it 
into  our  course.  (^ApL  24,  1891.) 

F.  E.  Welch,  Prof  of  Greek  and  Latin,  Trinity  College, 
^\  C.  :     Your  copy  of  Brooks'  "  Ovid  "  has  been  received  ancj 
carefully  examined.     I  am  satisfied  that  this  is  by  far  the  best 
tdition  of  "Ovid"  that  has  ever  been  published.    The  binding, 
the  illustrations,    the   print,    the  position  and  quality  of  the 
ATotae  and  the   normal  order    of   the   complicated   passages 
given  ia  the  margin  of  the  text,  all  these  and  many  other  ex- 
cellent features  make  this  text  book  a  perfect  treasure  for  the 
young  classical  scholar.     The  explicatio  of  each  fable  places 
the  student  in  a  position  to  understand  what  he  is  to  read. 
The  questiones  call  the  student's  attention  to  all  the  important 
points  in  the  fables.    1  shall  recommend  this  text  to  our  prepar- 
atory classes.  {^Apl.  24,  1891.) 


rt^eeni  Words  0/  Praise. 


Jproohs'  Quid's  Petamotphoses. 


Analysis  and  Explanation  of  Each  Fable. 


Frank  Smalley,  Prof,  of  L.atin,  Syracuse  University 
Syracuse,  N.Y.:  I  examined  it  (Brooks'  "Ovid")  with 
much  interest.  The  mechanical  part  of  the  book  is  certainlj 
elegant,  making  a  very  attractive  volume.  The  editor  has 
shown  good  taste  in  his  selections.  The  Metamorphoses  is  a 
\vork  of  surpassing  interest,  as  setting  forth  in  the  language  at 
the  time  of  its  most  perfect  development,  and  by  one  of  the 
most  elegant  and  gifted  poets  of  the  Augustan  age — the  sub- 
stance of  Greek  and  Roman  mythology.  I  think  the  editor  has 
succeeded  in  his  purpose  to  exclude  whatever  in  the  language 
might  offend  the  taste  of  this  purer  age  and  would  be  especi- 
ally objectionable  in  classes  of  young  ladies.     {ApL  24,  1891.) 

W.  B.  Sherrill,  Bethel  College,  McKenzie,  Tenn.  :  We 
have  started  the  class  in  "  Ovid,"  and  have  adopted  your  book 
by  Brooks.  {.Apl.  24,  1891.) 

W.  A.  Wright,  A.  M.,  Dean  of  the  Literary  Department, 
U.  S.  Grant  University,  Athens,  Tenn. :  I  have  examined 
with  pleasure  "Caesar's  Commentaries,"  "Ovid's  Metamor- 
phoses"  and  "  Virgil,"  by  Prof.  N.  C.  Brooks.  LL.  D.  The 
illustrations  which  greet  you  on  almost  every  page  Oi  tht 
.Eneid  are  beautifully  adapted  to  the  awakening  of  an  in« 
creased  interest  and  familiarity  with  mythological  subjects 
All  these  books  bear  the  impress  of  a  master*s  band,  and  I  ex- 
pect to  show  my  faith  by  adopting  them  into  my  classes. 

{Apl.  18,  1891.) 

In  another  letter  he  says* — "  You  bear  the  stamp  of  an 
eminent  scholar,  and  I  should  deem  it  fortunate  for  ihi*" 
Universitv  to  secure  your  services." 


Ftnh  cotnmendattont^ 


^roohs'  Grid's  Prianiorphas^a. 


Marginal  Notes  and  Foot  Notes. 


Geo.  E.  Jackson,  Washington  University^  Si.  Louis . 
Dr.  Brooks'  **  Ovid"  is  particularly  valuable  and  attractive  lot 
its  illustrations  of  the  text  by  parallel  passages  from  English 
literature,  and  I  shall  recommend  its  use.         {Apl.  13,  iSyi.) 

A.  M.  Wonder,  A.  M.,  Prof,  of  Latin,  Central  Penn- 
sylvania College^  Ne7v  Berlin^  Pa.  :  The  **  Ovid  "  is  truly  all 
one  could  ask  for  as  a  text-book,  and  hereafter  we  shall  use 
Brooks'  edition.  {^Mch.  18,  1891.) 

W.  Arthur  Heidel,  Prof,  of  Latin,  Illinois  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, Bloomington,  J II.  :  I  have  examined  your  Brooks' 
edition  of  "  Ovid  "  and  find  it  excellent,  and  though  "Ovid  " 
has  not  heretofore  been  read  in  this  institution,  I  have  deter- 
mined to  read  that  author.  I  hereby  request  you  to  forward 
to  my  address,  within  the  next  week,  ....  copies  of  said  book 
at  introduction  rates.  {A/ch,  4,  1891.) 

W.  A.  Wright,  Prof  of  Latin  and  Greek,  U.  S.  Grant 
University,  Athens,  Tenn.  :  I  am  so  much  pleased  with  the 
"  Ovid  "  that  I  intend  introducing  it  into  our  course.  Purged 
of  its  objectionable  features  1  am  glad  to  give  it  a  place  in  our 
curriculum.  {Feb.  18,  1891.) 

G.  W.  A.  Lyon,  Prof,  of  Latin,  King  College,  Bristol, 
Tenn.  :  The  book  is  so  full  of  carefully  selected  and  admir- 
ably arranged  notes  as  to  make  a  veritable  cyclopaedia  of 
Roman  mythology,  thus  really  or'virjgr  two  hooks  for  one. 
Adopted  for  use  in  King  CoiU^  {Feb.  2    1891.) 


HOSSFELD       Spanish.       METHODS 

New  Practical  Method (Key  to  ditto  .35) $1.25 

Spanish  to  learn  English (Key  to  dit  o  .50) 1.50 

Spanish  Reader 1.00 

Conjugacion  de  los  Verbos  Ingleses ..!...      .35 

Eng.-Span.  and  Span.-Eng.  Dictionary,  in  one  vol.     i.oo 
Eng.-Span.  Commercial  Correspondent i.oo 

How  to  compose  letters  either  in  Spanish  or  English.  En- 
larged edition,  with  a  vocab.  of  technical  expressions. 
Polyglot  Correspondent,  pocket  size 2.50 

To  enable  tourists  or  business  men  to  compose  letters  in 
anv  of  the  four  languages. 

Italian. 

New  Practical  Method (Key  to  ditto  .35) $1.25 

Eng.-Italian  and  Italian-Eng.  Dictionary,in  one  vol.     i  .00 
New  Eng.-Italian  Pronouncing  Dictionary,  1892. .     1.25 

An  absolutely   new   work,  containing  the  Commercial, 
Scientific,  Technical,  Military  and  Nautical  terms. 

French. 

New  Practical  Method (Key  to  ditto  .35) 

French  Reader. 

Eng.-French  Exercise  Books : 

ist  Series,  Lessons  1-13 2d  ditto,  i4-36    each 

The  set,  1-26,  complete 

Key  and  Tasks  to  do 

French-Eng.  Dictionary,  i6mo 

Eng.-French  '•  •'     

The  two  in  one  vol 

Eng.-French  Commercial  Correspondent 

By  a  new  and  simple  method,  an  unlimited  number  of  let- 
ters may  be  framed  adapted  for  all  the  requirements  of  trade. 

German. 

New  Practical  Method (Key  to  ditto  .35) 

German  Reader,  new  plan 

Contains  a  selection  of  letters  by  the  most  eminent  person- 

ajpres  of  this  century:   Bismarck,  Moltke,  the  late  German 

Emperor,   Baron  Stein  and   other<,    and  eminent   women 

whose  names  are  household  words  in  Germany. 

iyerman  Exercises  and  Idioms,  by  Prof.  Carl  Mengel, 

Indispensable  to  those  wishing  more  than  a  superficial 
knowledge  of  the  German  Language. 

Eng.'Ger.  Exercise  Books,  (30  in  set,  4  pp.) 

Ger.-Eng.  Dictionary,  i6mo 

Eng.-Ger.  "  *» 

The  two  in  one  vol 

Ger.-English  Commercial  Correspondent 

For  framing  letters  either  in  German  or  English. 


$1.25 
1.00 

.65 
1.25 

.75 

•50 

•50 
I.oo 

1.00 


$1.25 

•75 


I.oo 

.75 
.50 
.50 

I.oo 

I.oo 


I 


Hossfeld  Methods.— Gev-man,  French,  Spanish. 

T.  E.  Peters,  A.B.,  President  Shelbina  Collegiate  Insti. 
tute,  Shelbina,  Mo.  :  Your  Hossfeld's  Method  of  German 
and  Classic  Greek-Eng.  and  Eng. -Greek  Dictionary  have 
been  received.  I  am  so  v/ell  pleased  with  then, 
both  that  I  shall  introduce  them  into  my  school  next  year. 

\March  7,  i8g2. 

Frances  E.  Peirce»  Principal  Mt.  Vernon  Institute  oj 
Elocution  and  Languages,  Philadelphia,  Pa.:  1  have  exam- 
ined Hossfeld's  Spanish  and  French  systems,  and  take 
pleasure  in  stating  that  they  come  nearer  (o  my  ideas  of  a 
language  text-book  than  any  I  have  seen,  and  I  shall  in- 
troduce them  into  our  school  with  the  f»Gxt  session. 

[March  ^,  i8g2. 

Prof.  Jno.  L.  Cooper,  Chattanooga  College  for  Young 
Ladies,  Chattanooga,  Tenn.  :  The  Greek  Dictionary  and 
** Hossfeld's  German  Method"  have  been  received.  The 
Greek  Lexicon  is  truly  a  marvel  in  the  line  of  school  texts, 
both  as  regards  its  own  intrinsic  merits,  and  in  its  cheap- 
ness. It  is  remarkable  how  you  can  give  so  perfect  a 
book  at  so  low  a  price.  It  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every 
Greek  student  in  the  United  States  I  shall  certainly  use 
it  in  future  classes. 

As  to  the  German  Method  /am  equally  well  pleased.  It  ap- 
pears to  me  to  be  the  beau  ideal  of  a  modern  language  text 
f'ook.  [March  5,  i8g2. 

Edna  Chaffen  Noble,  Z>c/r^//  (Mich.)  Training  School: 

Please  send   me  at  once copies   Hossfeld's    French 

Method.  [March  4,  iSgs. 

E.  E.  Wolfe,  Fort  Edward  Institute,  Fort  Edward,  N.  ¥.: 
Mrs.  Wolfe  is  very  much  pleased  with  the  French  book. 
Its  method  is  the  lavest  and  best.  She  will  use  it  in  her 
next  class.  [March  4,  i8g2. 

Rufus  M.  Jones,  Principal  Oak  GroiJe  Seminary^  Vassal- 
boro.  Me.  :  I  do  not  hesitate  to  pronounce  it  a  success. 
It  seems  to  me  the  best  work  of  the  kind  I  ever  saw  (Hoss- 
feld's German  Method).  [March  2,  i8g2. 

W.  L.  Nicholson,  Principal  Oak  Institute,  Mooresville^ 
N.  C. :  I  have  examined  your  German  Method,  and  think 
it  is  a  splendid  work.     I  will  use  it  in  my  school   later  on. 

[March  i,  i8g2. 

Rev.  C.  L.  Puree,  D.D,^  President,  Selma  University •> 
Selma^  Ala.  :  \\  will  find  a  place  in  our  school  (Hossfeld's 
Corman  Method).  [March  /,  i8q8  . 


ANABASIS, 

OR 

EXPEDITION    OF   CYRUS. 


BOOK  I.  — CHAPTER  I. 

arentage  of  Cyrus  the  Younger.  After  the  death  of  his  father  he  is  accused 
of  plotting  against  his  biotbcr  Artaxerxes,  who  imprisons  him,  but  releases 
him  on  the  intercession  of  bis  mother,  aiul  sends  liim  back  to  his  province, 
where  he  secretly  collects  forces,  of  which  a  large  proportion  are  from 
Greece,  to  make  war  on  his  brother. 

1.  Avo  TTatSe?  yiyvovTai  Aapeiov  Koi  HapvcraTtSo? 

Two      sons  are-born        of  Darius    and  Pary satis 

TTpea^vrepo^;    [xh    'ApTa^ep^rjs,  Se       vecorepo^ 

he)        elder  on  the  one  hand     Artaxerxes,     (but)  (the)     younger 

ipoq.     'EttcI    8e     Aapelo^  rjo-ffevei  kol 

rrus.  But  when    —         Darius        was-sick  (had  fallen  sick)   and 

dmreve  TeKevrrjv  tov         I3lov, 

ispected  (the)        end  (of-ihe)  (his)     life  (was  approaching) 

^o-ukeTO  TO)  aiK^oTepo)       iralhe    Trapeivai.     2.    O 

e-wished       {the)  both  (his)     sons      to-be-present.  The 

Tpecr^vT€po<;  fiev  ovv  Irvyxave  irapcov ' 

elder  then  happened  |  (6ein^-jt)r«««nO  (to  he  present)  ; 

>e  jxeraTTepLTTeTaL  Yivpov  airo  rrj<;  ap^rj^j       r)<; 

lut       he-sends-for  Cyrus      from     the    province,    of-which    he 

i7roLrj(T€  avTov  (raTpdirqv  koX  aTreOet^e 

hud)        made  him  satrap,  and    he  (had)        appointed 

ivTov     8e     (TTpaTiqyov     ndvTO)!/,  ocrot 

lini  also        commander  of-all       (the  forces) ,  as-raany-as 

i^pot^oi/rat  etg        nehiov  KaarcoXov.     *0    Kvpo<; 

Bscmble  in  (the)     plain  of-Castolus.  —  Cyrus 

ava^  JLLVCL  \a^i)v  Twrcra- 

kordiugly  goes- up    (to  hisi  father)  havin;,'-taken  (with  him)  Tissa- 


New  Classic  Series. 

Postage^  10  cents  each. 


Ctoth. 


i 


Interlinear  Translations. 

Octavo.    $1.50  per  volume. 
Cjesar. 
Cicero's  Orations. 
Cicero  On  Old  Age  and  Friendship. 
The  New  Testament. 

For  larpe  paper  edition,  with   Notes  and   parallel 
Standard  Version  in  margins,    see  special  circular, 
Virgil's  /Eneid. 

Virgil's  Eclogues  and  Georgics. 
Xenophon's  Anabasis. 
Homer's  Iliad. 

Livy.    Books  XXI  and  XXII. 
Horace.     Ready  soon. 

Demosthenes  on  the  Crown.    In  preparation. 
Others  to  follow. 

Handy  Literal  Translations.    Q\oi\i.,  pocket  size,    sects. 

per  vol.  Postages  c^^-  et^ch.  Thirty-seven  volumes  now  ready,  vix.: 
Caesars  Gallic  War. 
Cicero's  Defence  of  Roscius. 
Cicero  On  Old  Age  and  Friendship. 
Cicero  On  The  Nature  of  the  Gods.    Nearly  ready. 
Cicero's  Orations. 
Cicero's  Select  Letters. 
Cornelius  Nepos. 
Herodotus,  Books  VI  and  VII. 
Horace,  complete. 
Juvenal. 

Livy,  Books  I  and  II. 
^  Livy,  Books  XXI  and  XXII. 

Ovid's  Metamorphoses,  z  Tolumes. 

Plato's  Apology,  Crito  and  Phaedo. 

Plautus.     In  pref>a  ration. 

Pliny's  Select  Letters.     In  preparation. 

Sallust. 

Tacitus    Annals.     In  preparation. 

Tacitus'  Germany  and  Agricola. 

Terence. 

Virgil's  iEneid,  the  ist  Six  Books. 

Virgil's  Eclogues  and  Georgics. 

^schylus'  Prometheus  Bound  and  Seven  against  Thebet. 

Demosthenes  on  the  Crown. 

Demosthenes'  Olynthiacs  and  Philippics. 

Euripides'  Alcesiis.    In  preparation. 

Euripides'  Medea. 

Homer's  Iliad,  the  tst  Six  Books. 

Homer's  Odyssey,  ist  Twelve  Books. 

Lysias'  Orations. 

Sophocles'  CEdipus  Tyrannus,  Electra  and  Antigone. 

Thucydi(<es.     In  fireparation. 

Xenophon's  Anabasis,  t  te  ist  Four  Books, 

Xenophon's  Hellenica.     In  preparation. 

Xenophon's   Memorabilia. 

Goethe's  Faust. 

Goethe's  Hermann  and  Dorothea. 

Lessing's  Minna  von  Barnhelm. 

Lessing's  Nathan  the  Wise. 

Schiller's  Maid  of  Orleans. 

Schiller's  Maria  Stuart. 

Schiller's  William  Tell. 

Feuillet's  Romance  ot  a  Poor  Young  Man. 


Dictionaries :  The  Classic  Series.  Elegantly  and  durabl} 
bound  in  half  morocco.    $5J.OO  «acli.    Postage^  2octs.  each. 

French-English    and    Eng.-Fr.   Dictionary,   1122  pages. 
German-English  and  Eng.-Ger.  Dictionary,  1112  pages. 
Latin-English  and  English- Latin  Dictionary,  941  pages. 
Greek-English    and    English-Greek   Diet  ,  1056    pages. 
The  only  two-part   Greek  Dictionary  ever  pub- 
lished— beingLiddell  &  Scott's  Abridged,  last  edition, 
plus  a  good  working    English-Greek  Lexicon,  and  at 
same  price  L.  &  S.  alone  has  heretofore  been  published. 
English-Greek  Dictionary.    Price  $1.00.    Postage  i Gets. 

Hossfeld  Methods :  Spanish,  Italian,  German,  French, 
$1.25  each.    Send  for  list  of  Keys,  Dictionaries,  etc. 

Craig's  Revised  Common  School  Question  Book,  with 
Answers.  Enlarged  Edition,  revised  for  i8gi.  Published  at  $2.25 
Our  Price,  $1.50.     Postage  §4  cts.    Send  for  descriptive  circular. 

How  to  Become  Quick  at  Figures.    $1.00.  Postage  8  cts. 
How  to  Prepare  for  a  Civil  Service  Examination.    With 

Revised  Civil  Service  Rules.     Full  instructions  for  applicants  of 
both  sexes.    50  cts.    Postage  sets. 

Book-Keeping  Blanks  at  30  cts.  per  set.  Five  Blank-Books 
A»  to  the  set.    Adapted  for  use  with  any  textbook— Elementary,  Prac- 

tical or  Common  School.  Price  30  cts.  per  set.  Postage  b  ets.  per  set. 

Bad  English.  Ungrammatical  Expressions  Corrected  ,30 cts. 

Handy  Aids  for  Writing  Compositions,  Five  grades,  viz.: 
A,  B,  C,  D,  E.    20  cts.  each.    All  five  for  js  cts.    Postages  cts. 

Acme  Declamation  Book.  Cloth,  50  cts.;  paper,  30  cts. 
Handy  Pieces  to  Speak.   Primary,  20  cts.;  Intermediate, 

20  cts.;  Advanced,  20  cts.     All  three  /or  so  cts.     Postage 3  cts. 

Oxford  Handy  Helps,  25  cts.  each.    Send  for  circulars. 

Handy  School  Record,  or  Teachers*  Class  Register,  25  cts. 

Gentlemen's  Book  of  Etiquette,  and  Manual  of  Polite- 
ness.    A  complete  guide  to  correct  manners.  90  cts.   Postage  10  cts. 

Ladies'  Book  of  Etiquette,  and  Manual  of  Politeness.    A 
complete  handbook.    Price  90  cts.    Postage  10  cts. 
We  are  special  agents  for  the  following: 

Liddell  &  Scott's  Abridged  Greek  Lexicon.    Current 

(a4th)  Edition.    $1.50,  reduced  from  I2.00.    Postage  18 cts. 

White's  Latin-English  Dictionary,  $1.50.  Postage  18  cts. 
White's  English-Latin  Dictionary,  $1.25.  Postage  10  cts. 
White's  Latin-Eng.  and  Eng.-Latin  Diet.    $2.70.    Pos- 

iage  24  ets. 
Key  to  Harvey's  Revised  Eng.  Gram.  54  cts.  Postage  6  cts. 
Key  to  Jones'  Greek  Prose  Composition,  50  cts. 

Your  local  bookseller  will  supply  above  postage  free. 

ARTHUR  HINDS  &  CO.,  4  COOPER  INSTITUTE,  N.  Y.  CITY. 


This  series  contains  the  only  ttvo-Part  Greek  Lexicon 


Our  Dictionaries 

ZTbe  Classic  Scries 

Printed  in  clear  type,  on  good  paper,  and  durably  bound 
in  half  morocco  in  a  style  particularly  attractive.  Size  8x51^ 
mches. 

French-English  and  English-French.  1122  pages. 
Price,  $2.00  ;  plus  postage y  20  cts. 

German-English  and  English-German.     11 12  pages. 

Price,  $2.00  :  plus  postage^  20  cts. 
Latin-English  and  English-Latin   Dictionary.     927 

pages.     Price,  %2.oo  .plus postage,  jy  cts. 

Greek-English  and  English-Greek.    1056  pages.    Price, 

'%2.oo\  fins  postage,  25  cts.      This  is  the  only  Greek   Lexicon 

published  containing  both  Greck-E'ipfhsh   ant^   F.nplish  fTteek 
part.-,  in  one  volume — being  Lidddl  &  Scott's  Abridged,last  edi- 

tic  n,  phis  a  good  working  EngHsh-Orcek  lexicon. 

The    Classic    English-Greek  Dictionary,    being    the 

Second  Part  of  the  above,  bound  separately,  in  uniform  style, 
but  published  at  %\.oo,  plus  postagi  locts. 

Dealing  as  we  do  exclusively  in  School  and  College  Books, 
we  have  learned  the  value  to  the  Teacher  and  Student  Public 
jf  ^.  good  dictionary ,  and  have  had  constantly  impressed  upon 
IS  the  desirability  of  a  series  of  dictionaries,  uniform  in  sixc, 
4p  to  the  times  in  point  of  contents  and  scholarship,  of  best 
quality  as  to  typography  and  paper,  and  in  a  binding  at  once 
elegant  and  durable.  That  the  volumes  in  this  series  are  the 
best  in  all  these  respects^  is  attested  by  the  unqualified  commen- 
dations we  are  receiving — a  few  of  which  we  append,      (over.) 


Arthur  Hinds  &  Company 

4    Cooper    Institute.  New    York    City 


'Si: 


•_ji 

^ 


y 


fk 


•  ft:,.,' 


iJ. 


-'  »"■ 


•1 


■»x 


H    Joe 

CO    '^  . 

It    'o 


■.f  ".'»*'; 


^; 


*Jli 

i-'S*='.'ii 


•,;.*: 


,.iV-^' 


»    'v-    . 


l:.» 


'^l>. 


Jkk» 


